A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold. Chineseamerican author ruthanne lum mccunn s a thousand pieces of gold 1981 is a fictionalized biography of polly bemis, a chineseamerican pioneer woman, who lived in idaho during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. A biographical novel paperback 1981 by ruthanne lum mccunn author. Lalu nathoys father called his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Its based upon the life of polly bemis aka lalu who was kidnapped by bandits in china, sold into slavery and shipped to the united states and ended up in a mining town in idaho. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1981 biographical historical novel about lalu nathoypolly bemis and includes an essay in which the author, ruthanne lum mccunn, documents her research for the book and her discoveries in the years since pollys death. Thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn goodreads. Thousand pieces of gold bluestreak by ruthanne lum mccunn. Thousand pieces of gold tells the extraordinary story of lalu nathoy, later known as. Rather than becoming a bride, lalu ends up in an idaho gold mining town, the property of a saloon owner who renames her china polly and plans to sell her as entertainment for the locals. Prior to the debate, students should read the authors essay. In 1880s china, young lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father.
Thousand pieces of gold bluestreak book by ruthanne lum. She is sold first to a brothel, then to a slave merchant bound for america. About the book thousand pieces of gold opens in mid1800 northern china with lalu nathoy on the cusp of adolescence, her familysubsistence farmers. This summary of thousand pieces of gold includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Trace how the themes are developed from the beginning to the end of the book. An incredibleand truestory of a young chinese woman torn from her homeland. A thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn is the story of a girl named lalu living in eighteenthcentury china. Adeline yen mahs latest book is a perfect interweaving of personal reminiscence and ancient chinese history. For some measure of the progress of women, consider pieces of gold, set in the 19th century and telling the story of a chinese woman sold from man to man as if she were property. Debate whether the book should be classified as a biography or historical fiction. Her awardwinning books have been translated into eight languages.
Sun wrote two books beiji qian jin yao fang essential formulas for emergencies worth a thousand pieces of gold and qian jin yi fang supplement to the formulas of a thousand gold worth that were both milestones in the history of chinese medicine, summarizing pretang dynasty medicine. Jan 01, 1981 thousand pieces of gold is a fictional biography of a chinese woman who was sold by her father in 1871 and brought to california to work in a brothel. Lalu nathoy, who came to be known as polly bemis, is a real person and lived until 1933 when she died in idaho. A thousand pieces of gold growing up through chinas proverbs. My research did not end with the book s publication in 1981 but extended across the pacific to the peoples republic of china. Editions of thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn. In chapter 8, ding says to lalu, dont you understand, you cannot escape you. One thousand pieces of gold is a fictional biography. Thousand pieces of gold, by ruthanne lum mccunn, is the true story of a chineseamerican pioneer woman who overcomes poverty, footbinding, and slavery to build a life of relative freedom in the american northwest. A thousand pieces of gold adeline yen mah paperback. A thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn teen ink. Her awardwinning books include the moon pearl and, most recently, chinese.
Marguerite is the daughter of two genius physicists inventing a machine that allows consciousness to jump through parallel universes. The film is based on the littleknown fact that years after slavery was abolished in america, asians were still held in involuntary servitude sometimes by their own people. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Ruthanne lum mccunn writes about the chinese on both sides of the pacific. Lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Adeline yen mah adds a personal touch to this by showing how that proverb relates to every day life by relating it to her own personal experience. The fact that it was based upon a true story makes it even more amazing. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important.
But after the book came out, i was contacted by more people whod known her and shared more anecdotes. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copieslalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. It is not a view shared by adeline yen mah who regards the written word as worth more than a thousand pieces of gold, the title of her latest book. A thousand pieces of gold written by adeline yen mah, was an extraordinary book.
Start studying thousand pieces of gold study guide. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1981 historical novel by ruthanne lum mccunn and based on. Introduction thousand pieces of gold tells the extraordinary story of lalu nathoy, later known as polly bemis. A valuable book that gives chinese americans another true heroine.
In 1991, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name. Her awardwinning books include the moon pearl, wooden fish songs, and sole survivor. Researching lalupollys life in the late 1970s and 1980 for thousand pieces of gold, i interviewed pioneers and scoured memoirs, studied photographs, official documents, articles in newspapers and magazines. A thousand pieces of you is a book with a 5star premise, unfortunately laden with a few core issues that drag down my rating. Thousand pieces of gold bluestreak by ruthanne lum mccunn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. These passages make the book read at times like a desperate letter the author should have.
One thousand pieces of gold lays down an inspirational story which is very easy to read and very engaging. Mccunns work has been translated into nine languages and. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1991 film starring rosalind chao, chris cooper, dennis dun and michael paul chan, and is directed by nancy kelly. Thousand pieces of gold tells the extraordinary story of lalu nathoy, later known as polly bemis. Learn thousand pieces gold with free interactive flashcards. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copies lalu nathoy s father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when. Her father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his thousand pieces of gold, but when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. She has translated accounts from shiji, a historical record published in china in the last century bc and therefore referring to events in the two centuries before that, and related them to contemporary events in her own life. She is a wonderful story teller, a gift she learned from her grandfather. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. Growing up through chinas proverbs this is the third book of adeline mahs that ive read. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. A biographical novel asian voices paperback may, 1989 by.
Thousand pieces of gold 1990 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Click to read more about thousand pieces of gold bluestreak by ruthanne lum mccunn. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copies lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn teachers. Books similar to thousand pieces of gold goodreads. With rosalind chao, chris cooper, michael paul chan, dennis dun. This little chinese girl went through so much and was able to become a woman in a foreign country on her terms. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1981 historical novel by ruthanne lum mccunn and based on the life of polly bemis, a 19thcentury chinese immigrant woman in the american old west. Lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern.
A thousand pieces of gold is a unique memoir that highlights various chinese proverbs and uses the history of china to show how the proverb came into use. As part of my research for thousand pieces of gold, i went to idaho and interviewed people who had known polly. My discovery of chinas character in its proverbs adeline yen mah, author. Its fictional because all the dialogue is made up, while the major events are based upon her real experiences. Choose from 51 different sets of thousand pieces gold flashcards on quizlet. Ruthanne lum mccunn has written several books about the role of the chinese in american history. This classic biographical novel is the extraordinary story of a legendary pioneers fight for independence and dignity on the american frontier. Her books are autobiographical in nature as well as historically based. Thousand pieces of gold this guide was made possible by a grant from the john d. Lalus family is poor, but they manage to survive and pay their taxes. Thousand pieces of gold is an 1981 historical novel by ruthanne lum mccunn based on the life of polly bemis, a 19thcentury chinese immigrant woman in the american old west.
A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copies lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copieslalu nathoy s father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when. I came across her story in a book called idaho chinese lore by sister alfreda elsensohn it included just a few pages about her. Also, an archivist who read thousand pieces of gold noticed documents with her name on them in the national archives.
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