The Chinese Lady
Afong Moy in Early America
Nancy E. Davis
Reviews and Awards
"A remarkable volume, offering meticulous detail yet always delivering this content in engaging ways ... Davis' detail, with rich primary content and illustrations, is testament to her tenacious loyalty to an overlooked figure, and she should be lauded for her cohesive research despite limited sources for Moy's life." -- Rebekah Lyndon, American Nineteenth Century History
"Davis's book is not only a triumph of historical scholarship and storytelling, but also a surprisingly human story that restores to Afong Moy much of the dignity her handlers, managers, and audiences denied her." -- G. Patrick O'Brien, Kennesaw State University, H-Net
"Intriguing and authoritative, The Chinese Lady examines themes from the turbulent nineteenth century, including the rise of the middle class, the development of American nationalism and race theory, and the effects of unregulated banking and land speculation. These notions are masterfully reflected in the melancholy tale of an immigrant cast aside in the whirlwind."- Foreword Reviews