The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel: A Novel

In contrast to the other reviewers, I DID find this book interesting and historically fascinating, especially as it is a true story. In the days when Chinese and Japanese women were expected to be subject to men at all times and hardly even regarded as human, Yoshiko Kawashima was a true rebel. Born Chinese but later to fall in love with Japan and adopt Japanese identity, she made her own way in life, uncompromisingly using men as they used her. She spied for Japan and was loved by Chinese, Japanese, English and American men (and women), making no secret of the fact that she liked sex in all its forms. This is a beautifully written book, with lovely touches of prose which keep the reader in the Oriental atmosphere. It weaves the pattern of a life spent in a man's world but where this particular woman was very powerful indeed. The sex scenes are written with delicacy, there is none of the raunchy foolishness of cheap novels, where sex is inserted merely to titillate. Yoshiko used sex from an early age to get her what and where she wanted and as such it is a vital part of the story. I recommend this book to anyone genuinely interested in history and who has an appreciation of the way a determined woman can succeed.