‘In this gripping tale, a close band of women are scattered by a ruthless occupation, each finding her own path through resilience, cunning and taking high-risk chances . . . A riveting, fast-paced read’ JENNIFER RYAN
Hong Kong, 1941. Following the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the wealthy Tang family flee to Hong Kong, believing it to be protected under British occupation. As the First Wife of the family, Mingzhu leads a sheltered – if lonely – existence overseeing her daughter Qiang’s education, while managing the household alongside her devoted maid, Biyu.
But when the Japanese army invade, the three women are scattered. Mingzhu’s affinity for languages spares her from physical labour, but she is coerced into working for a Japanese captain. Qiang and Biyu escape the island, only to be forced into factory work, until an encounter with the East River Column Resistance fighters separates them once more. The longer the brutal occupation lasts, the more determined the women are to resist.
And as war rages around the world, each is holding onto the hope that the other is alive.
Beautifully told and compulsively written, When Sleeping Women Wake is an utterly transporting story of female resistance and untold bravery, at once epic and intimate, heartbreaking and hopeful.
‘A lushly romantic and impassioned story of women’s agency and resilience’ JUHEA KIM
Hong Kong, 1941. Following the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the wealthy Tang family flee to Hong Kong, believing it to be protected under British occupation. As the First Wife of the family, Mingzhu leads a sheltered – if lonely – existence overseeing her daughter Qiang’s education, while managing the household alongside her devoted maid, Biyu.
But when the Japanese army invade, the three women are scattered. Mingzhu’s affinity for languages spares her from physical labour, but she is coerced into working for a Japanese captain. Qiang and Biyu escape the island, only to be forced into factory work, until an encounter with the East River Column Resistance fighters separates them once more. The longer the brutal occupation lasts, the more determined the women are to resist.
And as war rages around the world, each is holding onto the hope that the other is alive.
Beautifully told and compulsively written, When Sleeping Women Wake is an utterly transporting story of female resistance and untold bravery, at once epic and intimate, heartbreaking and hopeful.
‘A lushly romantic and impassioned story of women’s agency and resilience’ JUHEA KIM
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Reviews
In this gripping tale, a close band of women are scattered by a ruthless occupation, each finding her own path through resilience, cunning, and taking high-risk chances. Through imprisonment, forced labor, torture, sickness, and starvation, the women have to use their wits and daring to survive. A riveting, fast-paced read.
With vivid historicity and deeply relatable characters, When Sleeping Women Wake is a lushly romantic and impassioned story of women's agency and resilience
Emma Pei Yin weaves a spellbinding tale of transformation, resilience, and the quiet power of awakening. Through evocative prose and a richly drawn sense of place, she brings to life a cast of women whose journeys are as layered as the story itself. A novel of depth and nuance, When Sleeping Women Wake lingers in the mind long after the final page-an exploration of strength, self-discovery, and the landscapes, both internal and external, that shape us.
In When Sleeping Women Wake, three women-a resourceful and literature-loving mother, a strong-willed daughter, and a devoted servant-flee Shanghai to Hong Kong, only to have their lives upended once more by the Japanese invasion during World War II. Separated by the ravages of war, each woman must navigate her own fate amid escalating danger and conflict. Compelling, beautiful, and deeply moving, When Sleeping Women Wake is a powerful tribute to the forgotten women and men who fought and resisted the merciless grip of the Japanese forces during a dark period of Hong Kong's history. Readers of historical fiction will be swept away by this stunning tale of love, loyalty and survival. Emma Pei Yin is a talent to watch!