The Flower Drum Song
by C. Y. Lee
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Description
Originally published in 1957, The Flower Drum Song was a groundbreaking work of popular literature. An immediate bestseller, it inspired the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. This charming, bittersweet tale of romance and the powerful bonds of family tells the story of Wang Ta, who wants what every young American man wants: a great career and a woman to love. Living in San Francisco's Chinatown-with his widowed father, Old Master Wang, who misses the old way of life in China, and his show more younger brother, who just wants to be a normal American teenager-Wang Ta becomes involved with a series of women as he searches for love and the American dream. Comic, poignant, and sexy, The Flower Drum Song is an astute portrayal of immigrants struggling with assimilation. This edition features a new introduction by David Henry Hwang. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
When I saw The movie made from this book also called The Flower Drum Song when I was young I enjoyed it very much. The book as is usually the case bears somewhat of a resemblance but has it's very own charms.The story is told through the eyes of Old Master Wang who is an immigrant from China now living in Chinatown, San Francisco. He and his wife left in the forties or fifties when China was becoming communistic.
Old Master Wang has two sons, one in his twenties Wang Ta and one just fourteen Wang San. His wife has died some years past and he despairs of raising two sons with the Chinese characteristics of filial piety and following the teachings of Confucius. His sons of course have become Americanized and want to do things a different show more ways.
The story is told in a light humorous fashion that show the collision of cultural values that brings out the best in both worlds. show less
Old Master Wang has two sons, one in his twenties Wang Ta and one just fourteen Wang San. His wife has died some years past and he despairs of raising two sons with the Chinese characteristics of filial piety and following the teachings of Confucius. His sons of course have become Americanized and want to do things a different show more ways.
The story is told in a light humorous fashion that show the collision of cultural values that brings out the best in both worlds. show less
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Author Information
15+ Works 190 Members
Chin Yang Lee was born in Hunan Province, China on December 23, 1915. He graduated from National Southwestern Associated University in 1942. He worked for a time as a secretary for a maharajah on the border between China and Burma. He came to New York in 1943 after fleeing the Japanese. He received a master of fine arts degree from Yale University show more in 1947. His first book, The Flower Drum Song, was published in 1957. It was adapted into a Broadway musical and then a movie. His other books included The Sawbwa and His Secretary: My Burmese Reminiscences, China Saga, and Gate of Rage. He died from complications of kidney failure on November 8, 2018 at the age of 102. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Flower Drum Song
- Original publication date
- 1957
- Important places
- Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco, California, USA
- Related movies
- Flower Drum Song (1961 | IMDb)
- Disambiguation notice
- includes 1957 edition: The flower drum song, by C. Y. Lee
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Romance
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ4 .L4772 — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction in English
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 119
- Popularity
- 273,053
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.56)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 7
