Читать книгу My Fair Concubine - Jeannie Lin, Jeannie Lin - Страница 5

This story was a little bit of a departure from the high drama of my previous works. The Tang Dynasty was a golden age of Chinese culture, and I wanted to explore the vast capital city of Changan with its infamous entertainment district and teeming marketplaces. MY FAIR CONCUBINE allowed me to play a little with a beloved classic theme while adding a Tang Dynasty twist of my own.

For history buffs, the practice of heqin, or peace marriage, was a very important diplomatic practice which the Tang rulers used more than in any other era to keep the peace with neighbouring kingdoms such as Tibet and Khitai. The alliance brides ranged from daughters or nieces of the Emperor to palace women to daughters of court officials. A substantial body of poetry and writing exists about and by the heqin brides, and they achieved a certain legendary status. A famous poem by Princess Xijun, lamenting her marriage ‘to the other side of heaven’, is referenced in the book.

The collection of characters in this tale allowed me to explore people from more humble origins, and their actions unfolded before me like the scenes of a play. There is not much detailed writing on the lives of servants, tea house girls or actors, so I took liberties to fill out the players with my imagination. I hope you enjoy the journey through tea houses and city parks, as well as an adventurous jaunt to the bawdy, seedier side of the imperial capital.

I love hearing from readers. For more information about my stories, or to contact me, I can be found online at www.jeannielin.com