The Good Earth (The Good Earth Trilogy Book 1)

The Good Earth follows Wang Lung, a Chinese peasant farmer, and his wife O-lan, a former slave, during the 1920s. Through luck and hard work, the couple's circumstances improve over time. They have sons and save money until they can purchase property in the House of Wang—the same house where O-lan once worked. However, their success creates new challenges. Wang Lung becomes the target of jealousy, and as harvests fluctuate, so does the social order around them. The narrative raises questions about whether Wang's family will value the estate after his death, and whether material success can secure anything beyond physical security. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the William Dean Howells Award, this novel was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2004. The story explores themes of hope and family unity. This edition includes an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck with rare images from the author's estate.