<p>Amy Tan’s <em>The Valley of Amazement</em> is a sweeping, evocative epic of two women’s intertwined fates and their search for identity, that moves from the lavish parlors of Shanghai courtesans to the fog-shrouded mountains of a remote Chinese village.</p><p>Spanning more than forty years and two continents, <em>The Valley of Amazement</em> resurrects pivotal episodes in history: from the collapse of China’s last imperial dynasty, to the rise of the Republic, the explosive growth of lucrative foreign trade and anti-foreign sentiment, to the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of the foreign “Shanghailanders” living in the International Settlement, both erased by World War II.</p><p>A deeply evocative narrative about the profound connections between mothers and daughters, <em>The Valley of Amazement</em> returns readers to the compelling territory of Amy Tan’s <em>The Joy Luck Club</em>. With her characteristic insight and humor, she conjures a story of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and stubbornness of love.</p>