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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
War violence including massacre; the rape of Nanking depicted with historical authenticity; deaths of family members
Language
Barely any
Literary prose; no profanity
Sexual Content
Some
Sexual violence by invading soldiers is part of the historical record the novel depicts; referenced with restraint but clearly present
Substance Use
Barely any
None
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The sustained psychological weight of occupation and the question of what you will do to survive vs
What this book is about
Set during the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, Pearl Buck's novel follows a farming family as war descends on their village—depicting the rape of Nanking from the perspective of ordinary Chinese people with Buck's characteristic moral seriousness and compassion.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Rape and massacre of the Nanjing Occupation depicted with historical authenticity
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