Women, Seated

Translated by Jeremy Tiang
A riveting story of a powerful Chinese family's fall from grace

Enter the world of an elite Chinese couple: a life of luxury, wealth, and around-the-clock service, which includes their trusted nanny, Yu Ling. Slipping in and out of the shadows, meticulous in her care of their only son, she has served the family for years and knows their secrets. But little do they suspect that Yu Ling has secrets of her own.

In the pressure-cooker political environment of China, the fates of even the most powerful families can reverse overnight. When the family becomes the subject of a government investigation, their fortunes crumble, and the nanny is left to make a series of life-changing choices. How far will she go to claim her due?

Taut and enthralling, Women, Seated is a high-stakes story of power and privilege, crimes and secrets, and the elusive pursuit of personal freedom.
© Cai Xiaochuan
Zhang Yueran’s last novel, Cocoon, has been translated into several languages. It was nominated for the Best Foreign Book Prize 2019 and won the Best Asian Novel of the Prix Transfuge 2019. It was voted one of The New Yorker’s Best Books of 2022. Zhang lives in Beijing and teaches literature and creative writing at Renmin University. View titles by Zhang Yueran

About

A riveting story of a powerful Chinese family's fall from grace

Enter the world of an elite Chinese couple: a life of luxury, wealth, and around-the-clock service, which includes their trusted nanny, Yu Ling. Slipping in and out of the shadows, meticulous in her care of their only son, she has served the family for years and knows their secrets. But little do they suspect that Yu Ling has secrets of her own.

In the pressure-cooker political environment of China, the fates of even the most powerful families can reverse overnight. When the family becomes the subject of a government investigation, their fortunes crumble, and the nanny is left to make a series of life-changing choices. How far will she go to claim her due?

Taut and enthralling, Women, Seated is a high-stakes story of power and privilege, crimes and secrets, and the elusive pursuit of personal freedom.

Author

© Cai Xiaochuan
Zhang Yueran’s last novel, Cocoon, has been translated into several languages. It was nominated for the Best Foreign Book Prize 2019 and won the Best Asian Novel of the Prix Transfuge 2019. It was voted one of The New Yorker’s Best Books of 2022. Zhang lives in Beijing and teaches literature and creative writing at Renmin University. View titles by Zhang Yueran