'The Art of Love is written with a wonderfully intense simplicity - full of poetry and grace' Andrew Motion
China, 1930s. Julian Bell, son of the Bloomsbury set's Vanessa, is newly arrived in Peking. In search of fresh experiences, he encounters the beautiful, intelligent and deeply erotic Lin Cheng. Though Lin is wife to a university professor, their passionate assignations blossom into an affair.
Schooled in the ancient Taoist arts of love, Lin instructs Julian in the ways of the East. But if society won't tolerate this union between Occidental and Oriental can their love possibly survive?
Based on a true story this is a tragic tale of romance, betrayal and sexual desire set against a backdrop of conflict and war.
'A lively book in its portrayal of liberal Chinese intellectual life before the multiple catastrophes of war'
John Lanchester, New York Review of Books
'The book's strength comes from Ying's skilful management of the theme of East meets West . . . readable, clever and spare'
Tibor Fischer, Erotic Review
