The Good Earth – May Book Into Film

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck was published in 1931 and awarded the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Best Novel. A best-seller in the United States, The Good Earth became an influential factor in Buck’s winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938.  The Good Earth has been a continual favorite throughout the years and even returned to the bestsellers list when Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club in 2004.

The Good Earth, depicting family life in a Chinese village before World War I, was one of the main factors influencing America’s decision to take on China as an ally in the war with Japan in 1941.

The Good Earth follows Wang Lung and his purchased bride, O-Lan, during a time when a modernizing Chinese Society was still deeply rooted to ancient customs.  Wang Lung and O-Lan experience great wealth, then, when the country is gripped by famine, they endure severe poverty, groveling for every crumb and coin.  During this time of utter devastation, O-Lan gives birth to two daughters and, out of sheer desperation, has to make a horrific sacrifice in order for her family to survive.  The Good Earth spans an entire generation of Chinese farmers and supplies a unique insight into what life was like in rural China in the early 20th century.

Join us for a discussion of this all time classic, The Good Earth, May 7, 2014 @ 6 pm @ Fort Bragg Library.