In the vein of Memoirs of a Geisha and Empress Orchid, a mesmerizing novel about two young girls growing up in feudal China 'You can relish See's extraordinary novel as a meticulously researched account of women's lives in nineteenth-century China. But you can also savour See's marvellous narrative as a timeless portrait of a contentious, full-blooded female friendship, one that includes, over several decades, envy, betrayal, erotic love, and deep-seated loyalty'