Presented ByPresented By Michelle Taylor Michelle Taylor & & Jennifer OttJennifer Ott World Literature 11 World Literature 11 a.m.a.m.

Dr. Jolanta Dr. Jolanta WawrzyckaWawrzycka

Located in Pocahontas County, of Hillsboro, West Virginia

Built by the Stulting family who came to America from Holland in 1847

16 acre farm

Today the birthplace is a museum; the rooms contain Pearl S. Buck memorabilia. There is also a crafts sold here along with Pearl Buck stamps

Born and RaisedBorn and Raised

Born: Born: June 26, 1892June 26, 1892

Fourth child out of Fourth child out of seven that were bornseven that were born She was one out of three She was one out of three

to live to adulthoodto live to adulthood ““When she was 3 When she was 3

months old she was months old she was taken back to China taken back to China where she spent the where she spent the majority of her life.”majority of her life.”

Sydenstriker was her maiden name.Sydenstriker was her maiden name.The Sydenstriker family moved The Sydenstriker family moved

from the US to Chinkiang, in from the US to Chinkiang, in Kiangsu province.Kiangsu province.

They lived in a small town between They lived in a small town between the Yangtze River and the Grand the Yangtze River and the Grand CanalCanal

““Her parents, Absalom and Caroline Her parents, Absalom and Caroline were Southern Presbyterian were Southern Presbyterian Missionaries, stationed in China.”Missionaries, stationed in China.”

China is also known as the

China is also known as the

People’s Republic of China

People’s Republic of China

33 rdrd Largest country in the world

Largest country in the world

It has an area of 9.6 million

It has an area of 9.6 million

square kilometers

square kilometers

Mr. Kong taught

Pearl the Chinese

language and

customs.

Pearl was brought up in Zhejiang,

China.

Her mother was a

teacher. Who

taught Pearl the English

language.

Pearl was

encouraged to

write at an early

age.

Pearl Buck attended Randolph-Macon Women's College

In 1910 and graduated in 1914.

Shortly after she graduated Shortly after she graduated she had to return to China she had to return to China because her mother was because her mother was sick.sick.At that time she At that time she happened to run happened to run into her future into her future husband, John husband, John Lossing Buck.Lossing Buck.They fell in love They fell in love

with each other.with each other.

He was a young He was a young Cornell graduate, he Cornell graduate, he majored in agricultural majored in agricultural economicseconomics““They married in They married in

1917, and 1917, and immediately moved to immediately moved to Nanhsuchou Nanhsuchou (Nanxuzhou) in rural (Nanxuzhou) in rural Anhwei (Anhui) Anhwei (Anhui) province.”province.”

In 1921 Pearl gave birth to her

daughter, Carol.

Her first child suffered from

PKU, which left her retarded.

Pearl, after the birth of Carol, underwent a

hysterectomy.

Jon and Pearl then adopted a new baby girl, named Janice.

Pearl and her small Pearl and her small family moved to Nanjing.family moved to Nanjing.

She taught English She taught English Literature at the Literature at the

University of NankingUniversity of Nanking.

““Nanking Incident”Nanking Incident”

In March 1927, a In March 1927, a battle occurred battle occurred between Chiang between Chiang Kai-shek's Kai-shek's Nationalist troops Nationalist troops and the Communist and the Communist forces, which led to forces, which led to many deaths. many deaths.

The Buck family had to The Buck family had to hid out for a day and hid out for a day and were eventually were eventually rescued by American rescued by American gunboats. gunboats.

They sailed to Unzen, They sailed to Unzen, Japan where they lived Japan where they lived for the rest if the year.for the rest if the year.

They moved back to They moved back to Nanking, although it Nanking, although it was still unsafewas still unsafe

Pearl then began to publish stories in magazines, followed by her first novel.

After she published her first novel she began to fall in love with her publisher in the 1930’s.

While her own marriage was falling it soon lead to divorce from John Lossing Buck.

Eventually she feel in love with her publisher Richard Walsh.

In 1935 after both of their first marriages ended in divorce the happy couple shared vows.

Bucks first novel Bucks first novel East Wind, East Wind, West Wind West Wind

(1930) (1930) received received critical critical

recognition. recognition. Pearl wrote this

novel because she needed money to

pay for her daughter Carol’s

doctor bills.

““The Good Earth The Good Earth was written in was written in

1931.1931. 1,800,000 copies 1,800,000 copies were sold in its first were sold in its first

year.year. This novel was also This novel was also

made into a MGM made into a MGM film in 1937.film in 1937.

This book was also This book was also made into a play.”made into a play.”

The Good EarthThe Good Earth

This novel stayed on the best sellers list This novel stayed on the best sellers list for 21 years.for 21 years.

This book is the first part of her trilogy This book is the first part of her trilogy “House of Earth.”“House of Earth.”

A classic story about a poor farmer, Wang A classic story about a poor farmer, Wang Lung and his selfless wife.Lung and his selfless wife.

These characters represent the traditional These characters represent the traditional Chinese farmer and a proud Chinese Chinese farmer and a proud Chinese

Woman.Woman.

Pearl won the Pulitzer Prize, Pearl won the Pulitzer Prize, and the William Dean Howells and the William Dean Howells

Medal in 1935.Medal in 1935.

•Pearl won the Nobel Prize in 1938.

•Pearl was honored due to her marvelous work as a Chinese novelist.

“…“…for her rich for her rich and epic and epic

descriptions of descriptions of peasant life in peasant life in China and for China and for

her her biographical biographical

masterpieces.”masterpieces.”

“…“…I accept, too, for my country, the United I accept, too, for my country, the United States of America. We are a people still States of America. We are a people still

young and we know that we have not yet young and we know that we have not yet come to the fullest of our powers. This come to the fullest of our powers. This

award, given to an American, strengthens award, given to an American, strengthens not only one, but the whole body of not only one, but the whole body of

American writers, who are encouraged and American writers, who are encouraged and heartened by such generous recognition.” heartened by such generous recognition.”

“ “And I should like to say, too, that in my And I should like to say, too, that in my country it is important that this award has country it is important that this award has

been given to a woman. You who have been given to a woman. You who have already so recognized your own Selma already so recognized your own Selma

Lagerlöf, and have long recognized women Lagerlöf, and have long recognized women in other fields, cannot perhaps wholly in other fields, cannot perhaps wholly

understand what it means in many understand what it means in many countries that it is a woman who stands countries that it is a woman who stands

here at this moment. But I speak not only here at this moment. But I speak not only for writers and for women, but for all for writers and for women, but for all Americans, for we all share in this.”Americans, for we all share in this.”

“The story of China’s last empress during the country’s struggle to

enter the modern world.”

“The story of a Korean family and the political events that shape its

history.”

“…“…1942, Pearl and 1942, Pearl and Richard founded the Richard founded the East and West East and West Association, Association, dedicated to dedicated to cultural exchange cultural exchange and understanding and understanding between Asia and between Asia and the West.”the West.”

““Welcome House has Welcome House has assisted in the assisted in the placement of over six placement of over six thousand children.”thousand children.”

“…“…1949, outraged 1949, outraged that existing adoption that existing adoption services considered services considered Asian and mixed-race Asian and mixed-race children unadoptable, children unadoptable, Pearl established Pearl established Welcome House, the Welcome House, the first international, first international, inter-racial adoption inter-racial adoption agency.”agency.”

Pearl S. Buck Pearl S. Buck FoundationFoundation

“…“…1964, to provide 1964, to provide support for Amerasian support for Amerasian children who were not children who were not eligible for adoption, eligible for adoption, Pearl also established Pearl also established the Pearl S. Buck the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, which Foundation, which provides sponsorship provides sponsorship funding for thousands funding for thousands of children in half-a-of children in half-a-dozen Asian dozen Asian countries.”countries.”

“…“…1991, the Pearl 1991, the Pearl S. Buck S. Buck Foundation and Foundation and Welcome House Welcome House combined to form combined to form the organization the organization known today as known today as Pearl S. Buck Pearl S. Buck International.”International.”

Pearl greatly influenced all the children that were sponsored by her

foundation. She wanted to help children who were seen as different to

society as a whole.

The children range from all different age groups; through her foundation

they receive schooling, medical assistance and everyday life skills.

“Pearl S. Buck, winner of the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize, is R-MWC most notable alumna.”

“Pearl was a woman way ahead of her time. She was a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, and the rights of those whose Disabilities long before these issues were talked about in public.”

“Buck was also an outspoken activist, who used her position and considerable influence to advance the causes to which she was so passionately dedicated.”

“She died shortly before her 81st birthday in 1973.”

This is her maiden name in Chinese. She designed the grave herself.