Pearl Buck

1. Pearl Buck

2. Presented By Michelle Taylor & Jennifer Ott World Literature 11 a.m. Dr. Jolanta Wawrzycka

3. Located in Pocahontas County, of Hillsboro, West Virginia Birthplace 16 acre farm Built by the Stulting family who came to America from Holland in 1847 Today the birthplace is a museum; the rooms contain Pearl S. Buck memorabilia. There is also a crafts sold here along with Pearl Buck stamps

4. Born and Raised • Born: • June 26, 1892 • Fourth child out of seven that were born • She was one out of three to live to adulthood • “When she was 3 months old she was taken back to China where she spent the majority of her life.”

5. China • Sydenstriker was her maiden name. • The Sydenstriker family moved from the US to Chinkiang, in Kiangsu province. • They lived in a small town between the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal • “Her parents, Absalom and Caroline were Southern Presbyterian Missionaries, stationed in China.”

6. China is also known as the People’s Republic of China 3rd Largest country in the world It has an area of 9.6 million square kilometers China Info.

7. Childhood Her mother was a teacher. Who taught Pearl the English language. Pearl was brought up in Zhejiang, China. Mr. Kong taught Pearl the Chinese language and customs. Pearl was encouraged to write at an early age.

8. Pearl Buck attended Randolph-Macon Women's College In 1910 and graduated in 1914.

9. Shortly after she graduated she had to return to China because her mother was sick. • At that time she happened to run into her future husband, John Lossing Buck. • He was a young Cornell graduate, he majored in agricultural economics • They fell in love with each other. • “They married in 1917, and immediately moved to Nanhsuchou (Nanxuzhou) in rural Anhwei (Anhui) province.” Love

10. Pearl, after the birth of Carol, underwent a hysterectomy. In 1921 Pearl gave birth to her daughter, Carol. Her first child suffered from PKU, which left her retarded. Jon and Pearl then adopted a new baby girl, named Janice. Carol Daughters

11. University of Nanking Pearl and her small family moved to Nanjing. She taught English Literature at the University of Nanking.

12. In March 1927, a battle occurred between Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist troops and the Communist forces, which led to many deaths. The Buck family had to hid out for a day and were eventually rescued by American gunboats. They sailed to Unzen, Japan where they lived for the rest if the year. They moved back to Nanking, although it was still unsafe “Nanking Incident”

13. Pearl then began to publish stories in magazines, followed by her first novel. After she published her first novel she began to fall in love with her publisher in the 1930’s. While her own marriage was falling it soon lead to divorce from John Lossing Buck. Eventually she feel in love with her publisher Richard Walsh. In 1935 after both of their first marriages ended in divorce the happy couple shared vows.

14. Bucks first novel East Wind, West Wind (1930) received critical recognition. Pearl wrote this novel because she needed money to pay for her daughter Carol’s doctor bills.

15. Breakthrough Novel • “The Good Earth was written in 1931. • 1,800,000 copies were sold in its first year. • This novel was also made into a MGM film in 1937. • This book was also made into a play.”

16. The Good Earth • This novel stayed on the best sellers list for 21 years. • This book is the first part of her trilogy “House of Earth.” • A classic story about a poor farmer, Wang Lung and his selfless wife. • These characters represent the traditional Chinese farmer and a proud Chinese Woman.

17. Pearl won the Pulitzer Prize, and the William Dean Howells Medal in 1935. Pulitzer Prize Medal

18. Winning the Nobel Prize Literature Nobel Prize Medal • Pearl won the Nobel Prize in 1938. • Pearl was honored due to her marvelous work as a Chinese novelist.

19. “…for her rich and epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces.”

20. Acceptance Speech “…I accept, too, for my country, the United States of America. We are a people still young and we know that we have not yet come to the fullest of our powers. This award, given to an American, strengthens not only one, but the whole body of American writers, who are encouraged and heartened by such generous recognition.”

21. “And I should like to say, too, that in my country it is important that this award has been given to a woman. You who have already so recognized your own Selma Lagerlöf, and have long recognized women in other fields, cannot perhaps wholly understand what it means in many countries that it is a woman who stands here at this moment. But I speak not only for writers and for women, but for all Americans, for we all share in this.”

22. Books She Wrote

23. “The story of China’s last empress during the country’s struggle to enter the modern world.” “The story of a Korean family and the political events that shape its history.”

24. “…1942, Pearl and Richard founded the East and West Association, dedicated to cultural exchange and understanding between Asia and the West.” “Welcome House has assisted in the placement of over six thousand children.” “…1949, outraged that existing adoption services considered Asian and mixed-race children unadoptable, Pearl established Welcome House, the first international, inter-racial adoption agency.” Welcome House

25. “…1964, to provide support for Amerasian children who were not eligible for adoption, Pearl also established the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, which provides sponsorship funding for thousands of children in half-a-dozen Asian countries.” “…1991, the Pearl S. Buck Foundation and Welcome House combined to form the organization known today as Pearl S. Buck International.” Pearl S. Buck Foundation

26. Pearl greatly influenced all the children that were sponsored by her foundation. She wanted to help children who were seen as different to society as a whole. The children range from all different age groups; through her foundation they receive schooling, medical assistance and everyday life skills.

27. “Pearl S. Buck, winner of the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize, is R-MWC most notable alumna.” “Pearl was a woman way ahead of her time. She was a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, and the rights of those whose Disabilities long before these issues were talked about in public.” “Buck was also an outspoken activist, who used her position and considerable influence to advance the causes to which she was so passionately dedicated.”

28. This is her maiden name in Chinese. She designed the grave herself. March 6, 1973 “She died shortly before her 81st birthday in 1973.”