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China, 1937: When Japanese bombs begin falling on the city of Nanking, nineteen-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates at Minghua University are ordered to flee. Lian and a convoy of more than a hundred students, faculty, and staff must walk a thousand miles to the safety of China’s western provinces, a journey marred by hunger, cold, and the constant threat of aerial attack. And it is not just the student refugees who are at risk: Lian and her classmates have been entrusted with a priceless treasure, a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends.
Based on true events, rich in Chinese history and lore, The Library of Legends is both an illuminating exploration of China’s recent past and an evocative tale of love, sacrifice, and the extraordinary power of storytelling.
From the author’s dedication at the beginning of the book:
“To the memory of my father and uncle, who packed up their books and became refugees in their own country, walking more than a thousand miles to safety with their university. The evacuation of Chinese universities during a time of war was emblematic of the Chinese regard for education. It was one of the country’s most remarkable achievements of intellectual and cultural preservation. It’s also a chapter of history almost unknown outside China.”