Lisa See's New Novel: Peony in Love

I just received an e-mail from Lisa See announcing her new novel which will be coming out 6/25/07.

Here's a bit about the story:

In 17th century China, the Manchus have seizedpower and crushed the Ming dynasty. But in an elaborate villa on the shores of Hangzhou's
West Lake, Peony lives a sheltered life with her wealthy family, trapped like a good-luck cricket in a bamboo-and-lacquer cage. Though raised to
be obedient, Peony has dreams of her own. One night, Peony catches sight of an elegant and handsome young man, but she is betrothed to
another. So begins Peony's unforgettable journey, which bringto life an exotic time and place?-even the vividly imagined realm of the afterworld, where one's soul is divided into three, ancestors offer guidance, misdeeds are punished, and hungry ghosts wander the earth in hopes of
marrying the living in "ghost marriages."

Based on a true story, Peony in Love uses the richness and magic of the Chinese afterlife to transcend death and explore the many
manifestations of love. Ultimately, it's about universal themes: the bonds of female friendship, the power of words, and the age-old desire of women to be heard.

Ms See will also be touring the US this summer with her book.