With such a popular genre as historical fiction, there are quite a few fantastic books similar to the story of ‘ Memoirs of a Geisha.’ The idea of creating new perspectives or realities for historical events or periods has captivated readers for a long time. Arthur Golden currently lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife and kids. A complete success, the novel was on the New York Times bestseller list for two years while selling more than four million copies. in the late 80s and begin to work on the first drafts of what would become ‘ Memoirs of a Geisha.’ After six years of writing, in 1997, Arthur Golden would complete his first novel. The stories of this man’s family inspired him to return to the U.S. He later earned a Master in Arts from Boston University. After receiving his master’s, Golden spent a summer at Beijing University and then went to work in Tokyo, where he met a young man whose dad was a well-known businessman and whose mother was a geisha. In the 1980s, Golden earned a degree in Japanese history from Columbia University. There he received a degree in art history, focusing on Japanese art. Golden graduated from Baylor School (middle and high school) in 1974 before attending Harvard University. Climax: When Sayuri, the protagonist, decides to betray Nobu.Īrthur Golden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1956.Setting: Yoroido, Kyoto, and New York City early to late 20th century.Genre: Historical Fiction, Bildungsroman.When/Where Written: Arthur Golden wrote the book between 1991-1997 in Boston, Massachusetts.In a story filled with hardship and sadness, the protagonist, Chiyo/Sayuri, always seems to overcome any obstacle thrown her way and find the light in every situation. Prior to debuting as a geisha, Golden reveals that the highest bidder will win a bidding war for the young girl’s virginity.Īrthur Golden, with the use of beautiful language and vivid imagery, weaves together the world around Chiyo/Sayuri, set between World War II (1929-1945) in Japan and the United States. The reader follows her journey as she learns everything about the arts of the geisha, including learning tea ceremonies and how to dance, and discovers the far darker elements of Japanese traditions. Chiyo’s life living in a poor fishing village makes a drastic transformation when she, along with her older sister, is sold into a geisha house and a brothel, respectively, and Chiyo becomes a geisha apprentice at the Nitta Okiya. The novel is a beautiful tale of one girl’s journey from a poor fisherman’s daughter to one of Japan’s most prominent Geisha.

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