Lady Tan's Circle of Women A novel Lisa See

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, a New York Times bestseller, immerses readers in the life of Tan Yunxian, a woman physician in 15th-century China. Raised by her grandparents in an elite family, Yunxian is taught the pillars of Chinese medicine by her grandmother, one of the few female doctors of the time. Despite Confucian beliefs that an educated woman is worthless, Yunxian learns to treat women’s illnesses, often related to childbearing, alongside her friend Meiling, a midwife-in-training.

Their deep friendship flourishes, even as societal norms dictate that a doctor should not touch blood, a necessity for midwives. Their bond is tested when Yunxian is forced into an arranged marriage, and her mother-in-law bans her from practicing medicine and seeing Meiling. Expected to conform to the traditional roles of a wife—embroidering slippers, reciting poetry, bearing sons—Yunxian is confined within the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

The novel explores Yunxian’s struggle to break free from these constraints and continue her important work, with her remedies still in use centuries later. It highlights the power of female friendship in overcoming adversity, making Lady Tan’s Circle of Women a poignant tale of resilience and empowerment, perfect for fans of Lisa See.