River of Dust

by Virginia Pye

On the windswept plains of northwestern China, Mongol bandits swoop down upon an American missionary couple and steal their small child. The Reverend sets out in search of the boy and becomes lost in the rugged, corrupt countryside populated by opium dens, sly nomadic warlords and traveling circuses. This upright Midwestern minister develops a following among the Chinese peasants and is christened Ghost Man for what they perceive are his otherworldly powers. Grace, his young ingénue wife, pregnant with their second child, takes to her sick bed in the mission compound, where visions of her stolen child and lost husband begin to beckon to her from across the plains. The foreign couple’s savvy and dedicated Chinese servants, Ahcho and Mai Lin, accompany and eventually lead them through dangerous territory to find one another again. With their Christian beliefs sorely tested, their concept of fate expanded, and their physical health rapidly deteriorating, the Reverend and Grace may finally discover an understanding between them that is greater than the vast distance they have come.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, China, Historical, Book Club, Cultural, Contemporary

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2013

About the author

Virginia Pye’s next novel, MARRIAGE AND OTHER MONUMENTS, due out in February 2026, is set in Richmond, Virginia in the summer of 2020.

Her most recent novel, THE LITERARY UNDOING OF VICTORIA SWANN (2023 Regal House) is a love story to writers and readers set in Gilded Age Boston.

She is also the author of two post-colonial historical novels set in China, RIVER OF DUST and DREAMS OF THE RED PHOENIX (2013 and 2015, Unbridled Books).

Virginia's short story collection, SHELF LIFE OF HAPPINESS (2018, Press 53) was awarded the IPPY Gold Medal for Short Fiction.

Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Digest, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Rumpus, and elsewhere.

A graduate of Wesleyan University, Virginia holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. A Tin House Summer Workshop scholar, teaching fellow at the Virginia Quarterly Review Conference, and a repeat fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, she has taught writing at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania, and, most recently, at Grub Street in Boston.

Virginia is Fiction Editor of the literary journal Pangyrus, a Regular Contributor to Writer Unboxed, and she serves on the board of the Women’s National Book Association, Boston Chapter. To learn more about her, please visit:
www.virginia@virginiapye.com

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less than a decade after the Boxer Rebellion, where Chinese villagers killed many missionaries and their families, missionaries from the Midwest have returned. On the plains at the edge of the Gobi Desert the Reverend and his wife Grace, with their small son Wesley have settled with other missionaries and their families to once again try to convince the heathens to turn to Christ. All starts going wrong when Mongolian bandits swoop down and kidnap their son.

This is a novel set in an exotic but barren place. There is drought and famine, people are starving and the missionaries and their families have paid a huge price. A novel of secrets, a feud Grace know nothing about, guilt and finally retribution. A question of faith and at what price does one hold on to it and what price is paid when one disavows what they have believed for a lifetime. It contains the superstitions of the ages, and I absolutely loved the characters of Ahcho and Mail Lin, the two people who tried to care for the Reverend and his wife and their differing belief systems. Lastly it is a story about ghosts, the ghosts that keep us sane, the ghosts that call us to them. As Grace finally realizes, "There was no way to undo the past or to correct the way things had gone, but attention must be given to the secrets along the way, Ghosts spoke to us all the time, if we were only willing to listen. Not to do so was hubris." Very good and a very interesting story.

Was actually based on the author's grandfather's journals. He was a missionary in china during this time period.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book with intense and interesting characters. The entire book is pervaded by a sense of loss, which the Reverend and his wife, Grace experience in the opening chapter with the kidnapping of their toddler son, Wesley. Missionaries who's goal is to share the gospel to the Chinese country people, they are soon enveloped by fate and destiny. Secondary characters, Mai Lin and Ahcho, an old Chinese man and woman, lend a vital perspective to the novel. Ahcho is the Reverend's number one man and a staunch supporter of the Reverend and the Christian faith. Mai Lin is Grace's amah. She is well schooled in the healing arts of the old way and saves Grace's life many times. Mai Lin says, "Fate takes you where it will, and you must let it. This is the way of the river, even when it is dry and dusty. We must bend and flow, or we will be swept aside by dangerous desert winds." Ahcho's response, "All wrong, foolish woman! We are Christian soldiers now. We fight against silly old ways. We are not overcome like a camel in a dust storm that lowers its head into the sand and waits to be suffocated. We must exert our will and not allow Fate to carry us willy-nilly. This is what the Reverend taught us!" The two are constantly offering up two different viewpoints which are consistently believable as their characters are revealed. The setting and landscape of 1910 China develops as a timpani, a musical score of kettledrums that swells and recedes but is always present. The book is beautifully despondent. There is elegance in the tragedy that unfolds. Virginia Pye reveals that her grandfather, the Reverend Watts O. Pye was a missionary to China after the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, which is exactly the time period that she plants her characters in China. Pye says that, "families pass down wisdom and pain often in equal measure, and I sensed my father and grandmother's losses in China." She writes that, "this book is a fictional expression of that distant, haunted time and place - one that exists in my mind and not precisely on any map." I certainly agree with Pye's assessment of families passing down wisdom and pain. Pain exudes from our pores as much as sweat on a hot summer day. How can it not be passed along? I hope the wisdom goes with it as well. Pye certainly captures in a fictional story the sense of a place and people haunted by their destinies. These are Mai Lin's thoughts at the end of the book. "It was a foolish plan, but Mai Lin took it as her duty to help the young woman fulfill her destiny. The river was flowing fast now, no longer with water but with dust. Who were they to try to stop it?" And so it is.

[Patricia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting and richly imagined, RIVER OF DUST is an impressive debut by author (and my friend) Virginia Pye. The gripping tale of Grace Watson and her husband --the Reverend as she refers to him, or "The Ghost Man," as the Chinese of the Shansi Province call him-- the story opens with the kidnapping of the couple's young son, Wesley, by a pair of Mongolian nomads and unfolds with the ensuing efforts to find him. But perhaps even more important than the tale of what happens to Wesley is what happens to Grace and the Reverend as a result -- to their ideas of what it means to be Christian missionaries, what it means to be a married couple and parents, what it means to be a Westerner in northwest China at the turn of the 20th century. The land is as much a character as any of the humans trying to tame it -- and in the battle of wills with its foreign occupants, does its best to break their spirits and emerge victorious.

Recounted by an omniscient narrator, this sweeping story favors neither the white missionaries nor the Chinese but instead allows the reader to fully experience the humanity of all its characters. Tension builds as the days go by and Wesley remains missing, Grace's pregnancy advances and her health grows more precarious, and the Reverend becomes increasingly preoccupied with finding his son. It's a book I find myself thinking about long after I have put it down.

[Erika Robuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found RIVER OF DUST terrifying and captivating. As a mother, I felt the horror of the kidnapping scene so acutely I couldn’t sleep. As a wife, I felt how Grace’s heart left her on every new quest her husband began to find their boy. As a woman, I appreciated the power Grace assumed over the course of the book in spite of her failing health. As a reader and writer, I was in awe of the transformations of the characters–men and women deteriorating in the faith they had come to teach, becoming more savage as their community failed, yet somehow growing in their humanity.

Pye was inspired by her grandfather’s missionary work in China in the early twentieth century, less than a decade after the Boxer Rebellion. Her descriptions of the living conditions of the foreigners and the Chinese, the relentless dust of the Shanxi Province plains, and the opium dens are vivid, and her characters are unique and fascinating.

RIVER OF DUST would be an ideal choice for book clubs because it is beautifully written and thought provoking. Readers interested in history, Americans abroad, and the struggles of missionaries will highly enjoy RIVER OF DUST.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have frequently traveled to China and have read both fiction and nonfiction about the country, I was not familiar with the period described in this novel. It is set in 1910, just before the end of the Imperial era and shortly after the Boxer Rebellion. I found the setting in time and place fascinating, and the characters of the Reverend and his wife, Grace, are both satisfyingly complex--virtuous people who are deeply flawed. The novel, it seems to me, gives an accurate portrayal of the Western approach to China even now, tainted with ignorance and arrogance.

It's a wonderful novel that I would recommend to anyone.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blown away by this novel. The premise of the story captured me -- a missionary couple's young child is kidnapped (and literally taken from his mother's arms) in Northern China in 1910, and the rest of the book brings the reader on their journey to find the child. Through this premise that grabs the reader by the heart, Pye effortlessly captures so much about human nature, marriage, friendship, bigotry,and, above all, I think -- how a person comes to find his or her faith and peace. Gorgeously written with love, soul, and deep respect for every character. And it has one of the most beautiful final chapters I've ever read. Looking forward to Virginia Pye's next novel!

[Cindy Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read River of Dust in an afternoon not only because I inherited a talent for reading quickly, but because at no time did I feel quite ready to leave these characters on their own. Somehow, Pye managed to pull me into the story as omniscient (albeit often failing) caretaker; I thought that if maybe I just kept reading, I could ease some of the misery that rained down on these literally and spiritually starving people. In that vein, I connected most with the caretakers of the story and felt as though I was looking at these Americans as children who carried great strength yet who hid from even the smallest of weaknesses. Naturally, if they had allowed themselves to recognize weakness in its earliest manifestations, they may have avoided much pain, but then we would have no River of Dust to keep us questioning and critiquing our own life choices.

Haunting in many ways.

[Kristin O'Keeffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've lived in China, a must-read. If you haven't lived in China, a must-read. Virginia Pye's RIVER of DUST is literary page-turner with gorgeous sentences, an unforgettable sense of place, and well-developed characters. & man, a real sense of the vulnerability of humans...all humans.

I couldn't put this book down. RIVER OF DUST proved to be one of those rare books that had me sneaking away from the dinner table to steal a few minutes of reading time. I love that.

Run, now! Read!

[Meg Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong debut literary novel by my friend Virginia Pye. Transports you to China of the early 1900s, grit, famine, misguided missionaries, and all. Found myself reaching for the galleys when I woke each morning. Lovely writing.

[Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

River of Dust: An Extraordinary Journey
by Virginia Pye

Literary fiction opens doors to extraordinary journeys. Set in northwestern China in 1910, River of Dust is ostensibly about the search for a three-year-old boy wrestled from his mother’s arms as his father tries buying off the bandits with his gold watch. The more powerful inner story is the alienation of the bereft young American parents, from one another, from the texture of their missionary community, and from what and who they were before that stunning seizure ripped them apart. The leitmotif of the novel is loss—profound and unalterable loss—and the gradual abandonment and renunciation of one’s personal myth. The couple is left without moorings. Their separate disintegration is told in unsparing detail. Small finely wrought moments of guilt and shame, of sudden violence and unexpected grace, are reminiscent of the fiction of Somerset Maughan.

For narrator and reader alike, the specter of that lost child is felt throughout the novel. His absence haunts like the pull of a nightmare that will not let go. If only time could be reversed, the moment Grace was running toward safety with the child still clutched in her arms. “She might as well have been standing still, for the young man barely slowed his horse as he swooped down over her. He grabbed Wesley’s arm and pulled. The boy held on to her neck for as long as he could. He cried out as his mother and the bandit fought over him. But finally, the barbarian stopped toying with Grace and simply yanked her son away.”

“Literary fiction, by its nature, “ Terrence Rafferty reminds us, “allows itself to dawdle, to linger on stray beauties even at the risk of losing its way.” River of Dust is such a novel. It is an exceptional work, exposing the highs and lows of human nature.
Human character changes, perhaps not “sudden and definite,” as Virginia Woolf states in the opening quote, but there are times when there is a shift, a discernible shift in human relations—“those between masters and servants, husbands and wives, parents and children.” The power of River of Dust lies in the fine rendering of those shifts—the impotence of a man controlled by guilt and shame, the resignation of a bereaved mother—and the juxtaposition of luminous language and terrible truths.

[Catherine Stickann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreaders First Reads and I thank the author and publisher for sending it to me.

Virginia Pye has written an interesting story that starts off with a bang. Taking place in Northwestern China in 1910, Grace has her young son ripped out of her arms by kidnappers . . . that is just the beginning and the fast pace is set. I kept thinking the story would slow down but the author remarkably was able to maintain the pace until nearly the end. I found myself grabbing this book every free moment. Unfortunately this great story took a slower side step toward the end and had a disappointing conclusion.
Pye's prose was smooth and easy to read. The characters were beautifully developed which made it easy for this reader to relate to. All through the book I anticipated giving 5 stars, but I had to drop it to 4 stars due to the shift at the end.
I look forward to reading more from this new author. I recommend this book, but caution that it is not uplifting.

[Sandra Heinzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the debut novel by a local Richmond, VA author, that our local book club is discussing next week. I really enjoyed the book and learned a lot about China/ Mongolia in the early 1900's. those missionaries had a brutal time of it back then, unfortunately. The story captured my interest from the beginning and I read the entire book in ne day. I thought the author wrote very well, and the book gave me a lot to think about. I hope she continues writing, because I want to read more! A sequel could even be done....... I highly recommend this book and look forward to our discussion. I think the author, herself, is joining us! I won't say anything about the plot because you can read it here on Goodreads. I read the Kindle version, btw, and there were some editing issues that need to be fixed, like words run together and some wide spacing.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Virginia Pye's wonderfully evocative, beautifully written novel a few weeks ago and it's still with me. This is storytelling at its best—old-fashioned storytelling without any of the pyrotechnics or gimmicks that many writers feel the need to use to get noticed today. Straight forward and honest prose, written at the height of the author's power, Pye's novel unfolds with delicacy, her images, potent and alive and refreshing. This is not a "China" novel, but a novel about love and loss, faith and redemption. While reading it, I was often reminded of The Sheltering Sky, Bowles' masterpiece. If you want to read a compelling book, that will teach you something about the human heart and its concomitant foibles, pick up River of Dust! You'll have as hard a time putting it down as I did.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read with a very different cast of characters in a very different place. I was lucky enough to get a reading copy and to my great delight, I loved this book. It is a bit hard to categorize and in the end, a bit of a mystery why these people behaved as they did. Never the less, I was along for the full ride, setting aside plans in order to go home and read this book.

I will leave the plot summaries for the professionals, but do go out and get this novel. It is haunting and evocative and very well written.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Reverend Watson and his wife, Grace, who are missionaries in Northwestern China in 1910. As they try to understand their relationship to each other, and the culture, people, and landscape of China, they are forced to confront their greatest desires and fears.

The quiet, beautiful prose that exposes the harsh and desperate realities of the Reverend and Grace is made all the more powerful as it also provides a mirror for the reader. This novel isn't shy about seeking out the inadequacies we try to hide and making us all the more aware of their existence.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of literary fiction but it was easy to get swept up in the beautiful writing in this book. I wanted the story to end differently, but the ending was just OK. I was thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it, and for a long time afterward, so I would say that's the sign of a good book. Not my favorite book of the year, but readers who love literary fiction will be enthralled.

ARC courtesy of Unbridled Books via NetGalley.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating story, beautifully written about a pastor, Reverend Martin, and his expectant wife, Grace, as they lead a mission in 1910 China. In their search for him, they discover more about themselves and their compatriots than they could have imagined. Events unfolded in ways I didn't see coming which formed a great reading experience. I think the ending will remain with me for a long time. It was so lyrical and evocative.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This writer has a unique and compelling voice. This story is tragic and beautiful at the same time; couldn't put it down!

[Tom C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating. A wonderful first novel.

[Jean]

Haunting, atmospheric, beautifully written.

[David L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting prose. Brilliant imagery. An impressive debut, and promising of much more.

[Mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written story of missionaries in China.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly picked this up at the library. A good, haunting tale.

[Bill Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my full review (and my interview with Virginia Pye) at my blog about literary fiction by female authors, ReadHerLikeAnOpenBook.wordpress.com. Here's the link: http://wp.me/p3EtWm-df

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

After their toddler son is kidnapped, a missionary couple grows and falls apart at the same time, some redemption yet not complete.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read many books from this area of the world during this time period, and it was for that reason that I picked it up. China 1910, a missionary couple join other American religious people's in providing missionary work to the peoples of China. A Mongol tribe kidnap the pastors child. The rest of the book is describing the breakdown of the family, of the whole mission in fact. I felt the ending was quite flat. Interesting and unique story.

[Robin Schoenthaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing and horrifying book about the travails of missionaries in China. The strength of people, the interactions, the history, the cross-cultural crossings ...all very worthwhile reading. I learned about a whole part of history about which I was ignorant, I got to spend time with interesting women, and I was changed after reading this book. Very glad I read it.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

China after the boxer rebellion

Sad story, but it is worth reading. What the missionaries endured in China is sometimes hard to read, but the story is worth it

[Debi Crawford-Poyner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consider this to be an Inspirational Fiction book.

[E. B. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page, an all-consuming and beautifully written book.