Author Margaret Wang’s New Book, "Of Noble Heritage," Explores China During the End of the Qing Dynasty Through the Eyes of a Wife & Mother Seeking to Effect Change
Recent release “Of Noble Heritage,” from Page Publishing author Margaret Wang, is a captivating work of historical fiction set near Beijing in 1896 to 1897, toward the end of Qing dynasty rule. As calls for social reform begin to escalate, Zilan, a wife and mother born and married into privilege, tries to bridge the gap between the old and the new as she prepares for an uncertain future.
New York, NY, May 10, 2023 --(PR.com)-- “Of Noble Heritage,” a new book by Margaret Wang, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, is a fascinating work of historical fiction set during the late 19th century in China. It follows a young wife who, amidst the growing call for social change as the gap between the wealthy and the poor grows ever wider, attempts to help those around her become ready to face the challenges ahead.
Born and raised in Shanghai, author Margaret Chan Wang was the youngest daughter of Chi-Lan Chan, a businessman, who co-edited the first English-Chinese standard dictionary and later became managing director of the first Chinese language newspaper in Hong Kong, then a British colony. The Chans entertained frequently, often inviting guests from Britain and elsewhere in Europe, and this early exposure to the language and customs of the West enabled Margaret and her siblings to become proficient in both Chinese and English and to appreciate the cultural differences between East and West at a young age. After college, Margaret and her husband moved to the United States, where she became a housewife and mother while he enjoyed a lengthy career as an engineer.
Following retirement, the couple relocated to an active senior community, where Margaret joined the author’s club. This was the perfect opportunity for her to develop her lifelong interest in creative writing. At first, she wrote short stories, poems, and essays, but later she was encouraged to write a full-length book about Chinese history and culture. Her efforts resulted in “Of Noble Heritage,” a fictionalized but generally accurate account of life in imperial China. The book was almost done and in the process of final edits when Margaret passed away after a brief illness. After Margaret’s death, her daughter took on the project of finishing the edits and arranging for the book’s publication.
“It is 1896 in China, once a strong and independent nation with a proud heritage but now a victim of inept government and foreign imperialism,” wrote Wang. “The gap between the rich and the poor is growing. While the wealthy enjoy the trappings of a comfortable life, less fortunate families (comprising a majority of the population) struggle to survive, often resorting to the practice of selling their young daughters into bondage to avoid starvation. Not surprisingly, calls for social reform and civil rebellion are getting louder.
“Zilan, a young wife and mother in a privileged mandarin family, faces the uncertainty with an outward calm that belies inner conflict. She is torn between her desire to honor the ancient Confucian principles at the core of China’s male-dominated society, on one hand, and her concern for the lowly status of females, especially those born into poverty, on the other. In her own quiet way and with initiative that is rare for a woman of her era, she sets out to improve the lot of those around her. She coaches her bonded maids to become self-sufficient and tries to find a way to restore their freedom. Through impromptu history lessons, Zilan helps her young son, Mengfei, understand how the past plays a vital role in shaping the present.”
Wang continued, “In her heart, Zilan is a feminist despite being raised in an environment in which women are taught to be subservient. From her lessons with Mengfei, which provide glimpses into Chinese tradition and culture, we can appreciate her wisdom in combining education with independent thinking at a time when women were not expected to be wise or educated or to think independently.”
Published by Page Publishing, Margaret Wang’s stunning tale is a powerful novel partly inspired by and draws from the personal experiences and recollections of women who actually lived in China at that time, as told to the author when she was a young girl. Expertly paced and poignant, this character-driven story provides readers with a window into what life was like in China, as seen through Zilan’s eyes, during the waning years of the Qing dynasty.
Readers who wish to experience this enlightening work can purchase “Of Noble Heritage” online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About Page Publishing:
Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Page’s accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at www.pagepublishing.com.
Born and raised in Shanghai, author Margaret Chan Wang was the youngest daughter of Chi-Lan Chan, a businessman, who co-edited the first English-Chinese standard dictionary and later became managing director of the first Chinese language newspaper in Hong Kong, then a British colony. The Chans entertained frequently, often inviting guests from Britain and elsewhere in Europe, and this early exposure to the language and customs of the West enabled Margaret and her siblings to become proficient in both Chinese and English and to appreciate the cultural differences between East and West at a young age. After college, Margaret and her husband moved to the United States, where she became a housewife and mother while he enjoyed a lengthy career as an engineer.
Following retirement, the couple relocated to an active senior community, where Margaret joined the author’s club. This was the perfect opportunity for her to develop her lifelong interest in creative writing. At first, she wrote short stories, poems, and essays, but later she was encouraged to write a full-length book about Chinese history and culture. Her efforts resulted in “Of Noble Heritage,” a fictionalized but generally accurate account of life in imperial China. The book was almost done and in the process of final edits when Margaret passed away after a brief illness. After Margaret’s death, her daughter took on the project of finishing the edits and arranging for the book’s publication.
“It is 1896 in China, once a strong and independent nation with a proud heritage but now a victim of inept government and foreign imperialism,” wrote Wang. “The gap between the rich and the poor is growing. While the wealthy enjoy the trappings of a comfortable life, less fortunate families (comprising a majority of the population) struggle to survive, often resorting to the practice of selling their young daughters into bondage to avoid starvation. Not surprisingly, calls for social reform and civil rebellion are getting louder.
“Zilan, a young wife and mother in a privileged mandarin family, faces the uncertainty with an outward calm that belies inner conflict. She is torn between her desire to honor the ancient Confucian principles at the core of China’s male-dominated society, on one hand, and her concern for the lowly status of females, especially those born into poverty, on the other. In her own quiet way and with initiative that is rare for a woman of her era, she sets out to improve the lot of those around her. She coaches her bonded maids to become self-sufficient and tries to find a way to restore their freedom. Through impromptu history lessons, Zilan helps her young son, Mengfei, understand how the past plays a vital role in shaping the present.”
Wang continued, “In her heart, Zilan is a feminist despite being raised in an environment in which women are taught to be subservient. From her lessons with Mengfei, which provide glimpses into Chinese tradition and culture, we can appreciate her wisdom in combining education with independent thinking at a time when women were not expected to be wise or educated or to think independently.”
Published by Page Publishing, Margaret Wang’s stunning tale is a powerful novel partly inspired by and draws from the personal experiences and recollections of women who actually lived in China at that time, as told to the author when she was a young girl. Expertly paced and poignant, this character-driven story provides readers with a window into what life was like in China, as seen through Zilan’s eyes, during the waning years of the Qing dynasty.
Readers who wish to experience this enlightening work can purchase “Of Noble Heritage” online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About Page Publishing:
Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Page’s accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at www.pagepublishing.com.
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