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Good Earth
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Good Earth Hardcover - 2011

by Pearl S. Buck

About this book

The Good Earth is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Pearl S. Buck, an American writer who spent the bulk of the first part of her life in China. Set in the Anhui Province where Buck once lived, it chronicles the rise and fall of Wang Lung and his family, portraying a realistic portrait of life in a Chinese Village prior to World War I. While not initially well received by critics, the novel immediately became a bestseller and has since been recognized as one of the most important 20th century works of fiction. It was also notable for its role in preparing the American public to accept the Chinese as allies later during World War II. The novel was followed by two sequels, Sons and A House Divided to complete the House of Earth Trilogy.
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From the publisher

ENDURING LITERATURE ILLUMINATED

BY PRACTICAL SCHOLARSHIP

A poignant tale about the life and labors of a Chinese farmer during the sweeping reign of the country9s last emperor.

EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES:

- A concise introduction that gives readers important background information

- A chronology of the author's life and work

- A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context

- An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations

- Detailed explanatory notes

- Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work

- Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction

- A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience

Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.

SERIES EDITED BY CYNTHIA BRANTLEY JOHNSON

First Edition Identification

First published by John Day in 1931 in brown cloth and a tan dustwrapper with a simple scene of a furrowed field topped by a sun printed in brown ink, the first edition of this understated tome simply states the copyright date with no mention of subsequent printings. The first issue contains the phrase "For the John Day Publishing Company, Inc." on the copyright page, while the second state simply says "John Day Company" and is in fact more rare. There has also been some debate about the presence of either a brown or green topstain as being a point of issue, but that remains inconclusive.

The original typed manuscript, which Buck wrote in 1929 while living in Nanking, was reportedly stolen in 1952 from an exhibit at the American Academy of Arts and Letters. It resurfaced in 2007 at auction and was reclaimed by the FBI. 

Details

  • Title Good Earth
  • Author Pearl S. Buck
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Amereon Limited
  • Date 2011-06
  • ISBN 9780848812515 / 0848812514
  • Reading level 1530
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Asian - Chinese
    • Ethnic Orientation: Asian - Chinese
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

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