Beacon Press: Thousand Pieces of Gold
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Thousand Pieces of Gold

Author: Ruthanne Lum McCunn

The extraordinary biographical novel about a Chinese-American woman who fought for independence and dignity in the American West

A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette

“Fast-paced and entertaining-packed with adventure, drama, and inspiration.”—San Francisco Chronicle


Lalu Nathoy’s father called his 13-year-old daughter his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold”—yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game.

Celebrated author Ruthanne Lum McCunn traces the gripping narrative of Lalu’s courageous attempts to escape captivity and then enslavement, and her unflagging efforts to live free in the American West as Polly, despite devastating losses. With over a quarter of a million copies sold, Thousand Pieces of Gold remains an enduring classic of biographical historical fiction, starring an unforgettable Chinese-American heroine whose struggles put a human face on the anti-immigration policies of the past and present.
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Thousand Pieces of Gold

ISBN: 978-080701886-6
Publication Date: 5/6/2025
Size:6 x 9 Inches (US)
Price:  $24.00
Format: Cloth
Not Yet Published
Will Ship On: May 2025
(Backorder policy)
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