“There’s nothing easy about living in a time of war. We all have our dark days. Thanks to you, today wasn’t one of mine.”
From the critically acclaimed author of The Library of Legends comes a tender and heart-wrenching novel set at the end of WWI about the lives of two women from very different backgrounds whose paths will intersect and lead them to risky repercussions. The Porcelain Moon is a story of forbidden love, found family, identity, belonging, and what one is willing to risk to attain their personal freedom.
This new historical fiction novel majorly sheds light onto a little-known aspect of the Great War: thousands of able-bodied Chinese men were recruited separately by the British and French governments to do support work and manual labour towards the end of WWI. They were known as the Chinese Labour Corps and they they did work such as loading goods, translating and interpreting, clearing battlefields and handling corpses in the trenches as well as other support services.
This serves as the setting for the stories of the two main characters of this novel. Pauline Deng is a young Chinese girl, the illegitimate niece of the owner of an antiques shop in Paris. She has spent most of her life living with her uncle and her cousin, Theo, and has helped them run the shop. In Paris she has found a sort of freedom and happiness that she wouldn’t have had in China. However, once Theo disappoints his father and becomes a translator and interpreter for the Chinese Labour Corps in Noyelles-sur-Mer instead of taking over the shop, Pauline fears for her future. As the war draws to a close, she is set to have an arranged marriage back in Shanghai. Refusing to accept her destiny and return to a life of misery, Pauline sets off to look for her cousin along with a family friend, Henri, hoping that Theo will be able to persuade her uncle to let her stay in Paris.
Camille is a young married French woman who comes from an aristocratic family and who is trapped in an abusive marriage; she is also Noyelles-sur-Mer postmistress. One day she meets Theo and as they discover their shared love for art, in secret (afraid of prejudices, racism, and her husband), they become each other’s safe haven in the tough times they live in. Pauline and Camille’s paths intertwine when Pauline rents Camille’s gardenhouse in search of her brother who is no longer in Noyelles-sur-Mer. After hearing some devastating news both of their plans are turned upside-down and with one risky decision, both of their lives will be bound forever.
Throughout the whole novel, Chang’s writing is beautiful and informative and carries the story at great pace, making The Porcelain Moon an easy read. Although some of the timelines and time jumps are difficult to grasp at first, the plot gradually smooths out. Chang’s storytelling through the two different perspectives is smart, detailed, and emotive. Her characters are so fleshed out that they feel so real. Both Pauline and Camille are easy to connect with, especially for other female readers who will certainly be able to empathise with some if not most of the same struggles these young women are faced with. Their perseverance and strength at a time where women had so little rights is quite admirable. Of course, since it’s set during World War I, the themes are heavy. So is the racism and abusive relationship Camille has with her husband so make sure to read the trigger warnings before reading.
As for the historical aspect of the book, Chang did a wonderful research job and it’s reflected perfectly in the pages, as well as in the author’s note which is definitely worth the read. Overall, The Porcelain Moon, tells a tender and beautiful story of found family and forbidden love while exploring the experience of Chinese laborers hired for non-combatant work in the WWI.
A compelling storyline with many echoes to the present, thought provoking characters, heartfelt love stories and a fascinating and lesser known chapter of Great War history make The Porcelain Moon the perfect book for both historical fiction fans and readers who may want to dip into the genre for the first time.
The Porcelain Moon is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
France, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncle’s home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs the help of her cousin Theo, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. In the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer, Camille Roussel is planning her escape from an abusive marriage, and to end a love affair that can no longer continue. When Camille offers Pauline a room for her stay, the two women become friends. But it’s not long before Pauline uncovers a perilous secret that Camille has been hiding from her. As their dangerous situation escalates, the two women are forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.
Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom.
