The Patriot

by Pearl S. Buck

Vintage hardcover

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, China, Classics, American, War, Novels

372 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 1939

About the author

Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker Buck was an American writer and novelist. She is best known for The Good Earth, the best-selling novel in the United States in 1931 and 1932 and which won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In 1938, Buck became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China" and for her "masterpieces", two memoir-biographies of her missionary parents.
Buck was born in West Virginia, but in October 1892, her parents took their 4-month-old baby to China. As the daughter of missionaries and later as a missionary herself, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in Zhenjiang, with her parents, and in Nanjing, with her first husband. She and her parents spent their summers in a villa in Kuling, Mount Lu, Jiujiang, and it was during this annual pilgrimage that the young girl decided to become a writer. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia, then returned to China. From 1914 to 1932, after marrying John Lossing Buck she served as a Presbyterian missionary, but she came to doubt the need for foreign missions. Her views became controversial during the Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy, leading to her resignation. After returning to the United States in 1935, she married the publisher Richard J. Walsh and continued writing prolifically. She became an activist and prominent advocate of the rights of women and racial equality, and wrote widely on Chinese and Asian cultures, becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.

Reviews

[Nicholas Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read somewhat let down by a weak ending. Buck takes 2 families, Japanese and Chinese, sets the scene with a mixed marriage and plunks her characters down in pre-communist China and Imperialist Japan. Both countries are headed by autocrats namely Chiang Kai-Chek and The Emperor of Japan. Japan invades China and commits atrocities which sparks retaliation and the 2 sides are at war. What to do when you're Chinese and have married a Japanese women, are living and working in Japan, have 2 children and your country is invaded by your adopted country, well go back and fight of course hence the title of the book. She knew Asia well and this piece of historical fiction stands up pretty well even after all these years.

[Jenifaël · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai apprécié le style d'écriture et le rythme qui étaient très reposants, même si c'est vrai qu'ils ne rendent pas particulièrement la lecture addictive. L'intrigue et les thématiques explorées l'ont été avec justesse et pertinence. Ce roman m'a ainsi permis d'en comprendre davantage sur les cultures chinoises et japonaises, ainsi que sur la guerre sino-japonaise (1937-1945).

Les personnages étaient approfondis et imparfaits, ce qui les rendait très réalistes. Le personnage principal était intéressant à suivre dans son évolution, d'adolescent fils de banquier mais révolutionnaire, puis de jeune adulte au Japon, et finalement de père de famille déchiré par la guerre entre son pays natal et son pays d'adoption.

Bref, un roman de Pearl Buck très instructif et agréable à découvrir.

[Becca Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearl Buck's writing is exactly the kind of historical fiction I adore!!! This is the third book of hers I've read and so far they're all unique and tell a different part of China's story... Onto the next!

[Laura Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERTS! I am a big Pearl S. Buck fan, and this is my favorite book of hers to date. It was written at a pivotal moment of Chinese history, immersing you in the events leading up to war with Japan. It ends on a note of uncertainty and hope, with the Chinese army being nearly destroyed and the main character, a Chinese man, leaving his family safely behind in Nagasaki to continue fighting the Japanese occupying his country. Pearl S. Buck ends many of her books on a tragic note, and because the dark cloud of the bombing of Nagasaki hangs over the story, in a way she unwittingly does so with this one as well.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like a 3.7 - quite involving and politically complex. At the center is a story of love for country, family, and the problems that arise when these are in conflict. It's heavy handed and at times makes a caricature of nearly everyone.

[Violaine Paquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving, beautiful and heartfelt.

[RubénRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

En la primera mitad del siglo XX en Estados Unidos apareció una generación de escritores excepcionales. Pear S. Buck es una de ellos. En esta novela ambientada en la China de los años veinte y treinta nos narra la historia de un joven estudiante de clase alta que decide unirse a los revolucionarios chinos en la ciudad de Shangai. A través de su historia vemos la situación de china tras la caída de la dinastia manchú, la caotica situación de la república, el golpe de estado de Chiang Kai-shek, el Japón de los años treinta y la segunda guerra chino-japonesa. En definitiva una magnifica historia escrita por la sobresaliente pluma de Pear S. Buck.

[Benjamín Arellano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante novela histórica. Trata sobre un chino que pasa de ser un joven ilusionado con la revolución socialista, a un exiliado que se casa con una japonesa (en pleno preludio de la segunda guerra sino-japonesa) y termina luchando por su país.
El aspecto mejor logrado es el examen de la cultura japonesa, al ser comparada por la china poseída por el protagonista. Elementos como la abnegación, el gregarismo y la disciplina son bien ilustrados, especialmente en la relación del protagonista con su mujer.
Destaco además la manera en que cambia este último a lo largo de la trama, alcanzando al final una visión de mundo más realista, sin dejar de ser un soñador.

[Boukhalfa Inal Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

On peut dire que les premières pages ont été difficiles, la petite histoire et la grande histoire sont imbriquées mais elle donne peu d'informations pour se repérer. Et quand l'histoire contemporaine de la Chine ne t'est pas familière, tu as un petit peu l'impression de rester sur le bord de la route.
Comme à son habitude, Pearl Buck confronte son personnage, chinois, à sa culture d'accueil, la culture japonaise. Car Pearl Buck excelle pour décortiquer les sentiments qui peuvent découler d'une confrontation à une culture étrangère.

[Calzean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at a young Chinese student from a rich family who becomes involved with revolutionaries looking for a better world with the coming of Chiang Kai-shek. The Generalissimo doesn't want these revolutionaries (aka communists) so the student is sent to Japan for his safety. There he spends 10 years, falls in love, marries, and compares the orderliness and obedience of Japan with his own country. He returns to China after he finds out that the Japanese invasion of China is destroying his country.

[TheQueensBooksII · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar saga from Ms. Buck. She simply has an uncanny way to capture the nuances, detail and richness of her characters and of China and the east in her expertly crafted works. This story takes place during the rise of the early Communist student movement, Chiang Kai-Shek, and subsequent upheavals of Sino-Japanese aggressions. The story traces the life of a young man who finds happiness in Japan, only to return to a war torn China that has also created rifts within his Japanese adopted family. I can't do justice to the grandness of this story. Highly recommend.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is out of print, so I got a used 1949 edition with very yellow pages. The original was in 1939. I kept having to go to Wikipedia, to see what exactly was the status of Japan and China in 1939, and try to see who "side" Perl Buck was on. I found it interesting to see the difference between the Japanese and Chinese back then. I wonder if there is still the mistrust or even hatred today. Glad I read it.

[Donna Sundre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really loved and admire this book. I don't know how she does this book after book. I felt deeply familiar with both the Chinese and Japanese cultures as I read and contrasted those living conditions. Her handling of the characters was deeply nuanced and adroit. Somehow she shifted from the eyes of one to another----male, female, Japanese, Chinese, rich and poor.

I think she is a brilliant author!

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Pops gave me this book. It is different than any other book I have ever read. It was beautiful. It is three parts and tells almost different stories about a Chinese man’s life (the stories connect). The Patriot speaks on prejudices, injustice, and the power of love. This is a powerful book that I hope to remember forever.

[Lorene Plat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A travers l'histoire d'I-Wan, on découvre un épisode de la guerre sino-japonaise (1937 à 1945).
Pearl Buck nous y parle de Tchang Kaï-Chek et du massacre de Nankin, entre autre.

Il n'y a pas de chapitre, mais trois grosses parties.

Je recommande, même si ce roman est long à lire, il est très intéressant sur le plan historique.

[Σταύρος Παυλίδης · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένας νεαρός Κινέζος,γιός τραπεζίτη,μπλέκει με μια ομάδα κομμουνιστών οι οποίοι σχεδιάζουν να αλλάξουν τον κόσμο.Οι ενέργειές τους προδίδονται και ο ήρωας αναγκάζεται να φύγει στην Ιαπωνία για να σωθεί.Εκεί βρίσκει δουλειά,ερωτεύεται,παντρεύεται,κάνει παιδιά και τακτοποιεί τη ζωή του.Όταν όμως ξεσπά ο πόλεμος μεταξύ Κίνας και Ιαπωνίας,γυρνά στην πατρίδα του για να πολεμήσει.

[Delphine Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a worthwhile read. I like learning about Asian history. I would have preferred that she wrote more background information to accompany the story. As another reviewer said, the writing was a little stilted and possibly even dated. That being said, I learned some things and was glad I hung in there to the end. I preferred the other books I have read by the author however.

[REEDÃÂ AÃÂ GEORGE · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mom sent me this book, an original copy from the 1930s.

Having been connected with Asia for many years, I am so impressed with Buck’s understanding of both Chinese and Japanese culture. The book was so enjoyable for me.

[Kgparkhurst Parkhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thought provoking novel!

Pearl S. Buck is one of my favorite authors. She is a fount of knowledge about a world I will never know.

[Inés Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't like the end, but I really liked the plot and the main character, I got to understand his actions and thoughts.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it
she is a perfect writer , no wonder that she won Nopel prize

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Li em 1973 e o título em português " o patriota". Não encontrei para comprá -lo.

[Daniel Fèlix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenomenal

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so in love with Pearl Buck! What wonderful stories!!

[Cristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

La manera en que Pearl describe los paisajes, costumbres y población de Chinos y Japones es increíble. Lleva al lector a esa época y te hace sentir parte de los personajes. ¡Me encantó todo el libro!

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorprendentemente la parte que más me ha interesado es la que se desarrolla en Japón

Tiene varias citas, momentos y reflexiones que me han gustado

[Merche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guerra Japon y China. Wu y Tama unidos en el amor a pesar de la guerra.

[Hang Mangpahang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The patriot was awesome book, the ending came so fast and i m left with desire to know more, Mrs. Buck ended it cruelly and now i m left with exploring mind and the sleep will not come 😅

[Filipe Arede · Rating 4 out of 5]

O Patriota é um livro da escritora norte-americana Pearl Buck que conta a estória de um jovem chinês chamado I-Wan, filho de um grande banqueiro de Xangai que vive confrontado com os ideais da juventude, a sua felicidade e o seu dever como bom patriota.
Pearl Buck, que ganhou o Prémio Nobel da Literatura em 1938, traz-nos nesta obra uma magnífica visão do mundo oriental – viveu vários anos na China – e em particular das diferenças existentes entre a gigante China e o insular Japão, traçando com delicadeza as diferenças entre estes dois povos e a sua forma de encarar a vida, o trabalho e a pátria.
I-Wan, a personagem principal desta obra, é durante toda a estória confrontado com profundas questões de ordem política – a crença no comunismo, provindo de uma família rica – e com a necessidade de agradar à família.
Depois de ter sido forçado a abandonar a China por imposição do seu pai, vai viver para o Japão onde reconstrói a sua vida e descobre o amor incondicional que apenas uma japonesa lhe poderia oferecer.
Pearl Buck escreve de uma forma simples, com poucos floreados, mas acima de tudo tem o dom de nos prender indelevelmente à narrativa com as reflexões metafísicas das suas personagens.
Naturalmente que gostaríamos de avançar um bocadinho mais nos pormenores da narrativa, mas consideramos que este é um livros que obrigatoriamente o leitor deve ler. Ficámos absolutamente apaixonados pelo estilo e pelas personagens e isso é aquilo, que no fundo, faz um grande livro.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sembra un libro un po’ datato ed ha dei toni, qua e la, decisamente paternalistici; indubbiamente la traduzione non aiuta – la mia copia e’ vecchia e la traduzione risale alla fine degli anni 40. Nonostante questi punti, “L’ amore di Ai-Uan” è molto bello. E’ il classico romanzo di formazione: e’ la storia di Ai-Uan, della sua giovinezza in Cina, del suo diventare adulto in Giappone e del suo ritorno in Cina, uomo fatto che torna a combattere per la patria, vivendo a cavallo di due paesi e di due civiltà e cercando sempre, prima confusamente e poi con sempre maggior discernimento, di comprendere e di fra convivere sia la sua identità cinese che quella del paese ospitante. E’ un viaggio nella storia, soprattutto della Cina, dei primi anni del secolo scorso fino all’ inizio della Lunga Marcia ed ai primi scontri fra Mao e Chiang Kai-shek. Ed e’ anche la storia di un amore fra due persone, che cercano di incontrarsi al di la dei pregiudizi e degli stereotipi culturali ereditati. E',insomma, un bellissimo romanzo, con una scrittura ricca ed allo stesso tempo scorrevole.