Who was Pearl Buck? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Pearl Sydenstricker Buck

Died At Age: 80

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: John Lossing Buck, Richard Walsh

father: Absalom Sydenstricker

mother: Caroline Stulting

children: Carol, Janice

Nobel Laureates In Literature Writers

Died on: March 6, 1973

place of death: Danby

U.S. State: West Virginia

More Facts

education: Cornell University, University of Toronto Mississauga, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College

awards: 1938 - Nobel Prize in Literature
1932 - Pulitzer Prize for

Recommended For You

1

What impact did Pearl Buck's novel "The Good Earth" had on on literature?

"The Good Earth" by Pearl Buck had a significant impact on literature as it portrayed the life of Chinese peasants in a realistic and empathetic way, challenging stereotypes and increasing awareness of Chinese culture.
2

How did Pearl Buck's upbringing in China influence her writing?

Pearl Buck's upbringing in China as the daughter of missionaries provided her with firsthand experiences of Chinese culture, which heavily influenced her writing, particularly in her accurate depiction of Chinese society and customs.
3

What themes did Pearl Buck often explore in her novels?

Pearl Buck frequently explored themes such as cultural identity, social injustice, women's rights, and the clash between Eastern and Western values in her novels, reflecting her deep understanding of different cultures.
4

How did Pearl Buck's work contribute to promoting cross-cultural understanding?

Pearl Buck's work played a crucial role in promoting cross-cultural understanding by humanizing people from different cultures, fostering empathy and respect, and bridging the gap between Western and Eastern perspectives.
5

What was Pearl Buck's approach to addressing social issues in her writing?

Pearl Buck's approach to addressing social issues in her writing was characterized by compassion, empathy, and a commitment to shedding light on the struggles of marginalized groups, particularly women and peasants, in a way that inspired social change.

Recommended Lists:

American Celebrities

Women's Rights Activists

American Women

Cornell University

Cancer Writers

Childhood & Early Life

Pearl Sydenstricker was born in West Virginia to Caroline Stulting and Absalom Sydenstricker. Both her parents were Presbyterian missionaries who went to China after their marriage. She was one of the seven children born to her parents, of whom only three survived to adulthood.

She was raised in a bilingual environment and was taught both English and Classical Chinese. She was a voracious reader from a young age.

She went to the U.S to attend Randolph-Macon Woman's College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1914. She also served for sometime as a Presbyterian missionary but resigned after some controversy.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Career

She returned to China and taught English literature at the University of Nanking and the National Central University from 1920 to 1933.

She started writing stories and essays for magazines like ‘Nation’, ‘The Chinese Recorder’, and ‘Atlantic Monthly’ in the 1920’s. She had also begun work on her first novel ‘East Wind, West Wind’, which was published in 1930.

In 1924, she went to the U.S for a short time and earned her Masters degree from Cornell University. In 1925, she returned to China.

In 1927, the political situation in China worsened and several Westerners were murdered. She fled to Japan and stayed there for a year before returning to China.

She now dedicated all her free time to her writing career and completed the manuscript for ‘The Good Earth’ within a year. The novel was published in the U.S in 1931 and went on to become a bestseller. The sequel to the novel, ‘Sons’ was published in 1933.

In 1933, she permanently left China and moved to the U.S. She went to Yale University and earned an additional master’s degree.

In 1935, she wrote ‘A House Divided’, the sequel to ‘Sons’. The three novels, ‘The Good Earth’, ‘Sons’ and ‘A House Divided’ form ‘The House of Earth’ trilogy.

Her career began to soar following the success of her novels and she wrote prolifically over the next few years bringing out one or sometimes even two novels per year. She published ‘This Proud Heart’ in 1938, followed by ‘The Patriot’ (1939), ‘Other Gods’ (1940) and ‘China Sky’ (1941).

The 1940’s were among her most productive years when she wrote many novels, non-fiction books, and stories as well. Some of her best known works from this era include ‘Of Men and Women’ (1941), Twenty-Seven Stories (1943), Peony (1948), and ‘Far and Near: Stories of Japan, China, and America’ (1949).

Continue Reading Below

In the 1950’s her published novels included ‘Imperial Woman ‘(1956) and ‘Letter from Peking’ (1957). Her non-fiction ‘The Child Who Never Grew’ (1950) was about her daughter Carol who was severely mentally retarded.

In spite of her advancing age, she never showed any signs of slowing down. Even during the 1960s she wrote consistently, publishing works like ‘The Living Reed’ (1963), ‘Death in the Castle’ (1965), and ‘The New Year’ (1968).

Recommended Lists:

American Women's Rights Activists

Major Works

Her novel ‘The Good Earth’ (1930) became a U.S best seller and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. The storyline revolves around the life of a family in China before the World War II. The novel has been adapted into Broadway plays and a film.

The sequel to ‘The Good Earth’ was published in 1932. It was titled ‘Sons’ and dealt with the issue of how the sons of an old man manage his property after his death.

Her novel ‘China Sky’, published in 1941 focuses on themes like love, honor, and betrayal during wartime in China during the Japanese invasion. A film based on the book was made in 1945.

‘The Big Wave’ (1948) is a children novel which tells the story of how an orphaned boy who bravely faces many tragedies finds love and happiness again.

Awards & Achievements

She won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for her novel ‘The Good Earth’. The award is generally awarded to an American author for distinguished fiction dealing with American life, but in Buck’s case, it was awarded for her novel dealing with life in a Chinese village.

She won the Nobel Prize in Literature 1938 “for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces".

Personal Life & Legacy

She married John Lossing Buck, an agricultural economist in 1917. They had one biological daughter who was severely mentally retarded, and one adopted daughter. The couple divorced in 1935.

She married Richard Walsh, an editor, in 1935. The couple adopted six more children. They had a loving marriage that lasted till Richard’s death in 1960.

She established the Welcome House Inc. (now part of the Pearl S. Buck International) in 1949 to promote international, interracial adoption of children—the first one of its kind in the world. The institution has till now placed thousands of children in loving homes across the world.

She died of lung cancer at the age of 80 in 1973.

Facts About Pearl Buck

Buck was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, highlighting her significant contributions to the literary world.

She was raised in both China and the United States, giving her a unique perspective on cultural differences and inspiring much of her writing.

In addition to being a prolific writer, Buck was also a passionate advocate for humanitarian causes, particularly in relation to women's rights and children's welfare.

Despite facing challenges and discrimination throughout her life, she remained resilient and dedicated to promoting understanding and compassion among people of different backgrounds.

Buck's novel "The Good Earth" was a groundbreaking work that brought attention to the struggles of Chinese peasants, shedding light on a previously overlooked segment of society.

Pearl Buck Biography

You wanted to know

What impact did Pearl Buck's novel "The Good Earth" had on on literature?

How did Pearl Buck's upbringing in China influence her writing?

What themes did Pearl Buck often explore in her novels?

How did Pearl Buck's work contribute to promoting cross-cultural understanding?

What was Pearl Buck's approach to addressing social issues in her writing?