Pearl S. Buck: A Literary Journey Through Humanity and Chinese Culture
Table of Contents
Early Life: A Cultural Odyssey Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, a prominent American novelist, was born on June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West Virginia. Her unique upbringing played a pivotal role in shaping her literary identity. Born to Caroline Maude and Absalom Sydenstricker, she was immersed in Chinese culture from a young age. Her parents' move to China when she was just a few months old exposed her to Chinese legends and stories, becoming her earliest literary influence. This foundation of literature and humanity would later drive her choice of a writing career. Education and Personal Life Pearl's early education was guided by her mother and a Chinese tutor, fostering her understanding of the language and culture. Formal schooling began at the age of fifteen at a boarding school in Shanghai. She continued her education at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Virginia, graduating in 1914. Returning to China, she found her soulmate in John Lossing Buck, an American agricultural spec…