This work is a magnificent travel narrative by an Australian woman recalling her time in China. Mary Gaunt makes excellent use of imagery and takes the readers on a journey with her. She also writes about socialization, imperialism, feminism, and patriarchy in general terms. Her descriptions are rich in quality, and her writing style is sublime. The incredible narration keeps the readers engrossed during the whole book. Keeping it down without completing it becomes tough once a reader starts this beautiful trip through Gaunt's book.
Mary Eliza Bakewell Gaunt (1861 — 1942) was an Australian novelist and writer born in Chiltern, Victoria. She wrote short stories, novellas, autobiographies, and non-fiction. In her life, Gaunt visited many countries like the West Indies, West Africa, China, and other parts of the East, and she wrote about her experiences in five travel books.