Meredith Sue Willis: Rediscovering Pearl S. Buck

Pearl S. Buck, the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature, is little read today. Born in West Virginia to missionaries and raised in China (bilingual in Chinese and English), she not only introduced westerners to the intimate life of the Chinese people, she was also involved in many anti-racist and civil libertarian causes. This talk will tell some of her story and share the speaker’s enthusiasms for some of Buck’s best books. For a taste of Buck’s China writing, take a look at the short story “The Old Demon” online at https://www.meredithsuewillis.com/old demon.pdf.
Meredith Sue Willis is the author of 18 books of fiction and nonfiction. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, New York University, School of Professional Studies and a past president of the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County.