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Shanghai Love

Shanghai Love

Author(s): Layne Wong

Location(s): Shanghai

Genre(s): Fiction, Historical

Era(s): WW2

Location

Content

Shanghai Love is a gripping novel about the unlikely love story that develops between a Chinese herbalist and a Jewish refugee in Shanghai during World War II. Peilin is betrothed to Kwan Yao, the only son of a wealthy pearl farmer. However, months before their wedding, Yao is killed by the Japanese in the Nanjing Massacre. The Kwans insist on proceeding with the wedding and beautiful Peilin is married to a ghost husband. When an uncle passes away, Peilin is sent to Shanghai to manage the Kwan family herbal shop. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Henri graduates from medical school just as Hitler rises to power and unleashes prejudice and violence against the Jewish population. He flees to Shanghai where he’s befriended by Ping, a young disfigured rickshaw driver. Ping introduces Henri to his sister Peilin. Through her kindness, Henri becomes fascinated with Chinese herbs as well as the exotic culture surrounding him. Shanghai Love is a classic story of love’s triumph over adversity.

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Lead Review

Shanghai Love incorporates the history that encompasses the migration of thousands of Jews to China. Henri meets Peilin, who is a survivor from the Nanjing massacre. A sobering story of man’s inhumanity yet elevating…

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