THE SECRET UNDER THE MAHOGANY TREE
Author and copyright: Feng Ping 2020
Format: paperback, 234 x 156 mm 258 pages 
RRP: $29.95 
ISBN: 978-0-6452761-0-7
OVERVIEW

A story of intrigue, set in the fabulously interesting time of the Ming dynasty, China. It was a time when tradition held that women did not play chess. At that time, Jin Xiaomei, a young girl of seventeen had grown up in the Plum Valley Chess Club where she was forbidden to play by her father, the master of the club. Jin Xiaomei had other ideas.
 
Follow her as she dresses up as a man and plays in other clubs to gain knowledge and experience. She enters the emperor’s chess competition to determine the Grand Master of the dynasty.
 
But there is another story. What is the secret under the mahogany tree? Who are the people who are out to destroy Jin Xiaomei and the Plum Valley Chess Club? And what of Prince Zhu? Will Jin Xiaomei resist his advances so she can pursue the one she loves? Will Jin Xiaomei endeavours lead to the emergence of legend or tragedy?
 
This story is loosely based on history, and many of the events portrayed are accurate.
 
The four women you will discover throughout this book are: 
  • Cai Wenji, a musical genius; 
  • Shangguan Wan’er, the first female prime minister of the Tang dynasty; 
  • Zhuo Wenjun, who conducted three risky chess moves throughout her life;
  • Li Qingzhao, the first female poet in a thousand years.

​Within, are gorgeous poems that were created by these extraordinary women, that are still adored in China.
 Sales Points:
  • Historically accurate 
  • A masterpiece of Ancient Chinese Ming culture  
  • Chess has never been so thrilling 
$29,95 AUD
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FENG PING - AUTHOR  
Feng Ping was born in Shanxi province, China. She gained her Ph.D. at the University of Warsaw, where she studied International Relations with a focus on China’s foreign policy towards Central Eastern European countries. She plays chess, enjoys classical music, and reads widely. This is Feng Ping’s fourth book. Her book Four legendary woman of ancient China is also published by Heartspace Publications. 

OTHER BOOKS WRITTEN BY Feng Ping

Copyright Graysonian Press and Heart Space Publications 2021. All Rights Reserved.