Women's Pavilion

On her fortieth birthday, Madame Wu, a member of one of the oldest and most revered houses in China, carries out a decision she has been planning for a long time. After twenty-four years of marriage, she tells her husband that their physical life together is now over and she wishes him to take a second wife. This decision throws the entire household, comprising more than sixty relatives and servants, into an uproar. However, Madame Wu remains elegant and detached, orchestrating this change with unwavering determination.

Alone in her own quarters, Madame Wu relishes her newfound freedom and indulges in reading books she has never been allowed to touch before. When her son begins English lessons, she listens intently, and soon finds herself learning from the foreigner, a free-thinking priest named Brother Andre, who will ultimately change the course of her life.

Few books raise as many thought-provoking questions about the nature and roles of men and women, as well as the concepts of self-discipline and happiness, as this captivating narrative. Madame Wu's decision to relinquish her role as the primary wife and make way for a younger woman challenges the traditional social and cultural norms of her time, offering readers a glimpse into the complex dynamics of gender and power within the confines of a deeply rooted Chinese household.

The author's exploration of Madame Wu's emotional and intellectual journey, as she navigates the societal expectations and her own personal desires, is both nuanced and compelling. Through this character, the reader is invited to contemplate the universal themes of personal autonomy, the pursuit of knowledge and fulfillment, and the transformative power of unconventional choices.

Ultimately, this thought-provoking work invites readers to consider the universal questions of what it means to be truly free, to find happiness, and to forge one's own path in the face of societal constraints. Madame Wu's story becomes a poignant testament to the human desire for self-determination and the courage to defy traditional norms in the pursuit of a more fulfilling life.

product information: