The Good Earth

About “The Good Earth”

This book tells the story of Wang Lung, a Chinese farmer living in old agrarian China. He deeply values the land he works and feels a strong connection to it, as it provides for him and his family. Nearby, the wealthy House of Hwang looks down on the land and its workers, but they face a dramatic downfall. When floods and droughts force Wang Lung and his family to move to the city for work, they encounter hardship. A riot breaks out, and the poor attack the rich, forcing them to flee. Wang Lung shows mercy to a noble, which brings him some success. As the House of Hwang collapses, Wang Lung begins to rise in society. The novel was written by Pearl S. Buck.