Book recommendation: "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck

Pearl S. Buck's novel *The Good Earth* is considered a classic of world literature and remains a compelling reading experience. Published in 1931, the work made the author world-famous, earned her the Pulitzer Prize in 1932, and laid the foundation for Buck's later Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938.

The author, the daughter of American missionaries, grew up in China and knew the language, culture, and everyday reality firsthand. This knowledge shaped her writing—objective, keenly observed, and at the same time full of empathy. "The Good Earth" offers Western readers a rare glimpse into life in rural regions of China in the early 20th century.

Instead of pathos-laden narratives, Buck employs a clear, almost documentary style. She shows how closely people are connected to their land, how existentially property, harvest, and family are intertwined. It is precisely this unpretentious, "earth-bound" narrative style that makes the book so compelling—and timeless.

The novel's enduring legacy is also remarkable: in 1937 it was lavishly adapted into a Hollywood film; actress Luise Rainer won an Oscar for her performance. At the same time, the novel continues to be studied and rediscovered in schools, universities, and book clubs – notably through Oprah Winfrey's Book Club in 2004.

Anyone interested in world literature that simultaneously offers a historical and cultural perspective will find The Good Earth a worthwhile read: a work that delves deeply into the relationship between man, soil and society – without revealing the magic of the narrative through too many words.