Thousand pieces of gold is a fictional biography of a chinese woman who was sold by her father in 1871 and brought to california to work in a brothel. Cristeta alagao thousand pieces of gold was written by ruthanne lum mccunn. At the end of the 19th century there was a fascinating, prolonged and onlyinamerica fight over the extent to which a gold standard was still helpful for prosperity accompanied by the book. Jan 01, 1981 thousand pieces of gold is a fictional biography of a chinese woman who was sold by her father in 1871 and brought to california to work in a brothel. Also, an archivist who read thousand pieces of gold noticed documents with her name on them in the national archives. Lalu nathoy, who came to be known as polly bemis, is a real person and lived until 1933 when she died in idaho. Thousand pieces of gold 1990 stream and watch online. Choose from 51 different sets of thousand pieces gold flashcards on quizlet. About the book thousand pieces of gold opens in mid1800 northern china with lalu nathoy on the cusp of adolescence, her familysubsistence farmers. Six thousand pieces of gold if shekels are here meant, as the arabic has it, then the six thousand shekels, at. Polly, as lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for america, auctioned to a saloon keeper, and offered as a prize in a.
A thousand pieces of gold growing up through chinas proverbs. In this poignant memoir the new york times bestselling author of falling leaves, adeline yen mah, provides a fascinating window into the history and cultural soul of china. Its based upon the life of polly bemis aka lalu who was kidnapped by bandits in china, sold into slavery and shipped to the united states and ended up in a mining town in idaho. A thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn teen ink.
Now shes calling out your name twisting the night again and again everything you left here to remind me pictures on the wall that make no sense after all those words that. Thousand pieces of gold essayslalu was a chineseamerican pioneer woman who overcomes poverty, footbinding, and slavery to build a life of relative freedom in the american northwest. This was a princely present, and shows us at once how high naaman stood in the esteem of. One question is based on a significant quotation in the novel. As part of my research for thousand pieces of gold, i went to idaho and interviewed people who had known polly. This little chinese girl went through so much and was able to become a woman in a. For some measure of the progress of women, consider pieces of gold, set in the 19th century and telling the story of a chinese woman sold from man to man as if she were property. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. Jacob robarts thomas period 6 theme not a love story to me this book was so much more than another love story. Thousand pieces of gold tells the extraordinary story of lalu nathoy, later known as polly bemis. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copies lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Thousand pieces of gold 1990 the image could not be loaded. Complete with photographs and documents, this biographical novel is the extraordinary story of a legendary pioneers fight for independence and dignity on the.
While she follows the chinese traditions, she still holds her own independent beliefs and is flexible enough to go against her tradition and. Piece of gold international standard bible encyclopedia. Polly developed an entirely new life in an estranging world through her name. Trace how the themes are developed from the beginning to the end of the book. They say there isn t enough gold to support finance and commerce. Wedding officiant book, officiant gift, officiant vow book, white wedding notebook, gold foil, 5. This little chinese girl went through so much and was able to become a woman in a foreign country on her terms. With rosalind chao, chris cooper, michael paul chan, dennis dun. Thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn teachers. One thousand pieces of gold is a fictional biography.
The fact that it was based upon a true story makes it even more amazing. Prescriptions worth a thousand pieces of gold for emergencies. In ruthanne lum mccunns biographical novel thousand pieces of gold, the author created a strong and independent woman named lalu who shows incredible strength and determination throughout her difficult journey of life. In fact a love story is one of the last things i would classify it under. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1981 historical novel by ruthanne lum mccunn and based on the life of polly bemis, a 19thcentury chinese immigrant woman in the american old west. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1981 historical novel by ruthanne lum mccunn and based on the life of polly bemis, a 19thcentury chinese immigrant woman in. Rather than becoming a bride, lalu ends up in a goldmining town where she forges a path for her own freedom and ultimately true love. Learn thousand pieces gold with free interactive flashcards.
Her father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his thousand pieces of gold, but when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. All of these themes are very important in order to make the book as strong and powerful as it is. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn goodreads.
Smith, ceo swiss america may 1, 2008 the recent pullback in the price of gold has sparked a slew of inquires as to just what precipitated the drop and if this is the end of the bull market in gold. Thousand pieces of gold is a 1991 film starring rosalind chao, chris cooper, dennis dun and michael paul chan, and is directed by nancy kelly. Thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn, recollects the story of a womans lifelong journey. As sun simiao said, human life is of paramount importance,more precious than a thousand pieces of gold.
In 1991, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name. Prior to the debate, students should read the authors essay. Thousand pieces of gold this guide was made possible by a grant from the john d. Rather than becoming a bride, lalu ends up in an idaho gold mining town, the property of a saloon owner who renames her china polly and plans to sell her as entertainment for the locals. But after the book came out, i was contacted by more people whod known her and shared more anecdotes. Released 1990, thousand pieces of gold stars rosalind chao, chris cooper, dennis dun, michael paul chan the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. Discuss the various meanings behind the title, thousand pieces of gold. A thousand pieces of gold adeline yen mah paperback. Maxine hong kingston ruthanne lum mccunn has woven an enthralling work of fiction. A thousand pieces of gold growing up through chinas proverbs chapter one the loss of one hair from nine oxen. Do you think the author presents a realistic portrait of race relations in a small, yet polarized american community. Powerpoint presentation thousands pieces of gold by. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Founded on may 4, 2011, we are one of the biggest gold banknote and coin manufacturer in china.
When i was thirteen years old, my parents told me that i was to leave school at fourteen and get a job because they no longer wished to pay for my education. Thousand pieces of gold guide penguin random house. Thousand pieces of gold in 1880s china, a girl is sold into marriage by her father. This is a basic quiz to give students to hold them accountable for reading the book. Lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Do you think it is an appropriate title for this book. One thousand pieces of gold lays down an inspirational story which is very easy to read and very engaging.
Very pleased with it, particularly as it is a book that i have been after for some time. The film is based on the littleknown fact that years after slavery was abolished in america, asians were still held in involuntary servitude sometimes by their own people. Then the remaining questions require short answers. She told hong in a 1994 interview, it was very different. A valuable book that gives chinese americans another true heroine. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copies lalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine. Rather than becoming a bride, lalu ends up in an idaho goldmining town, the property of a saloon owner who renames her china polly and plans to sell her as entertainment for the locals. Raised into a penurious chinese family, lalu nathoy was her fathers thousand pieces of gold. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold. Start studying thousand pieces of gold study guide. The long and dangerous american path paved in gold.
Thousand pieces of gold is most likely the first biographical novel of a chinese american pioneer woman. Thousand pieces of gold enlarge photo thousand pieces of gold, by ruthanne lum mccunn, is the true story of a chineseamerican pioneer woman who overcomes poverty, footbinding, and slavery to build a life of relative freedom in the american northwest. The first 10 questions ask students to match character names with descriptions. In the novel, thousand pieces of gold, there are five main themes the author is writing about. A reissue of the classic biographical novel that has sold more than 200,000 copieslalu nathoys father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his treasure, his thousand pieces of gold, yet when famine strikes northern china in 1871, he is forced to sell her.
In 1880s china, young lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father. In a new country, she is given the name polly and eventually auctioned to a saloonkeeper. Even though love was a recurring theme, i wouldnt consider this book to be a love story. A thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn is the story of a girl named lalu living in eighteenthcentury china. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Thousand pieces of gold 1990 thousand pieces of gold 1990 thousand pieces of gold 1990 thousand pieces of gold 1990 the image could not be loaded. Her father calls his thirteenyearold daughter his thousand pieces of gold, but when famine. Oct 19, 20 a thousand pieces of gold essay posted on october 19, 20 by alicecao528 in ruthanne lum mccunns biographical novel thousand pieces of gold, the author created a strong and independent woman named lalu who shows incredible strength and determination throughout her difficult journey of life. Thousand pieces of gold by ruthanne lum mccunn in what do.
She is sold first to a brothel, then to a slave merchant bound for america. The book was the basis for a 1991 independent film for american playhouse, but mccunn was unhappy with the celluloid translation. Lalu rosalind chao is a young chinese woman who is sold by her. Lalus family is poor, but they manage to survive and pay their taxes. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. They say john maynard keynes called gold a barbarous relic. A memoir of chinas past through its proverbs new ed by adeline yen mah isbn.