Читать книгу The Nine Fold Heaven - Mingmei Yip - Страница 7

Dear Reader,

This is a work of fiction, set in 1930s Shanghai and Hong Kong, a relatively lawless time. It was a time of extremes—from sybaritic luxury to abject poverty. I have tried to describe both extremes: the indulgences of the rich and the plight of the poor. Actually, for those at both levels life was full of dangers.

The rich were often involved in corruption, but others were always trying to usurp their place, either by guile or by murder. Those without money were treated as expendable, particularly the many children abandoned to orphanages. Some passages in what follows are disturbing, but they are based on actual travelers’ observations. Unfortunately, similar conditions still exist in some parts of the world. But I also feel that conditions in the world will not improve unless we face them honestly.

But there are always some who overcome even the worst of circumstances. I like to write about those women throughout history who overcame their misfortunes and, like the dragon, “soared to the nine fold heaven.”