Lisa See eBooks

Lisa See is an American novelist who is best known for her 2009 book, Shanghai Girls. Born in 1955, her Chinese-American family is a regular influence on her writing.

Though born in Paris, See spent much of her childhood in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. As a writer, her career began as a freelance journalist, writing for Vogue and Publishers Weekly, among other publications.

When she turned to writing books, she drew on her upbringing. This was reflected in her first book, On Gold Mountain: The One Hundred Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family, which was published in 1995. The book, which follows the history of See’s great-grandfather, was a bestseller and received critical praise.

During her research for On Gold Mountain, See decided her next book would be a novel. When Flower Net was published in 1997, it became a bestseller. The mystery thriller was also nominated for an Edgar award for best first novel. She continued to write in the genre with 2000’s The Interior and 2003’s Dragon Bones.

This was followed by Snow Flower and the Secret Fan in 2005, Peony in Love in 2007, and Shanghai Girls in 2009. Her most recent novel, 2011’s Dreams of Joy, is a sequel to Shanghai Girls. Her fiction continues to draw on her background, and utilizes Chinese settings and characters.

See is active in the Los Angeles Chinatown community, and has written a guidebook to the neighbourhood. She also serves as a city commissioner in Los Angeles.