Thousand Pieces of Gold

One Thousand Pieces of Gold is a fictional biography. It’s based upon the life of Polly Bemis aka Lalu who was kidnapped by bandits in China, sold into slavery and shipped to the United States and ended up in a mining town in Idaho. It’s fictional because all the dialogue is made up, while the major events are based upon her real experiences.The book has two major themes, one about gender roles and the other about the sense of home.Lalu was ripped from her family and sold off to the United States, which always made her long for a sense of home, a place where she felt safe and secure. When she was with the bandits she continuously tried to escape to go back to her village. Then when she arrived in America she believed that she could buy her freedom and go back to China. Eventually those hopes were dashed and she ended up finding her place in a farm she built with her husband Charlie. Everyone needs that grounding in a location that provides one with a warmth, comfortability and security. Polly went through a gut wrenching experience not only losing her family, but her entire country and ended up in a foreign land where she knew no one and didn’t even speak the language. Eventually love gave her back her tranquility and allowed her to finally accept America as the place where she belonged.Polly grew up in a society where women were second to men. There were many mores in Chinese society such as those laid down by Confucious that said that women should obey their men and be in the background. Lalu also had her feet bound when she was young because her dad hoped to get her married to a middle class man that would pay a dowry and enrich the family. Early on Lalul rejected these limitations and ended up working with her father on the farm like a man when they ran into financial difficulties. Later when she was taken by the bandits they thought that they could rape her, but she fought them off. Finally, when she went to America she was a slave and was under the ownership of a Chinese saloon owner in Warrens, Idaho. She still wouldn’t accept her fate and planned to kill him or buy her freedom. Even when she was free and with Charlies she didn’t want to marry him initially or have children because she felt that would hinder her independence. All along Polly fought against her role as a woman and fought for equality. This was especially amazing given the time period at the Turn of the Century and the rough and tumble place she ended up in the U.S.One Thousand Pieces of Gold lays down an inspirational story which is very easy to read and very engaging. The fact that it was based upon a true story makes it even more amazing. This little Chinese girl went through so much and was able to become a woman in a foreign country on her terms.

I first read this book shortly after it came out in 1981, and I loved it. I've never forgotten it, have loaned my copy out, and replaced it, at least 4 times. I recently bought the New Edition, which contains additional information, and am so glad I did.In rereading the book, I realized I had remembered certain scenes accurately – and some that didn't exist at all ;-).Lalu Nathoy/Polly Bemis was a real woman who was sold by her father to bandits, smuggled into the US and, as the slave she was, found her way from San Francisco to Portland to Warrens, Idaho where her owner used her in his saloon as a 'bar girl' and where she became known as Polly.Little is known of her life in China, and McCunn does a marvelous job of conveying the 'what might have happened.' Girls had little to no value in China, except to marry into a higher level of society if at all possible, thereby bringing some monetary relief to her family. To this end, many first born girls of even peasant families, had their feet bound. Lalu's feet were bound, and then unbound when she was needed to work in the fields to help her father. Although her feet never returned to 'normal' she was able to walk long distances and do field work on them.Bandits came to her village, and she was stolen. The leader gave her father two bags of seed, thereby changing it from a theft to a sale. Lalu began her journey to probably Shanghai where she was smuggled aboard a ship bound to San Francisco. From there, she went north until eventually reaching Warrens, Idaho, as the slave of Hong King. There is a myth about gaining her freedom, the truth as we know it is that no one knows how she ended up free. We do know she married her benefactor, Charlie Bemis, and lived many years in the Salmon River area.I think McCunn did a tremendous job showing the cultures of China and pioneer Idaho in this book. Yes, there were areas I would have liked to see expanded, and undoubtedly as you read it, there will be areas you wish were in more depth, but over all, this is a fascinating, and accessible story. I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in our history, or the history of the Chinese in our country. Although it is an adult book, it is suitable for those in Junior High School.It's a good read, and you're bound to learn something!

A true story that has it all! Well written; couldn't put it down. Bought a few over the years as gifts.

I found this a hard book to put down when I needed to do something else. It is a a historical novel about the life of one amazing Chinese woman who refused to let prejudice get the better of her. What I especially liked were the pictures included in the book of the real live woman who was portrayed. I am ashamed by how she was treated.

This is one book that will stick in my heart and mind forever. I loved it. Heard about it from my sister in Idaho. She and her co-workers had read and passed it around their office. She recommended it. This is one amazing book. If you have ever lived in Idaho or the NW and or take a vacation there, which I whole heartedly recommend, this book is a must read. I lived for many years in Nampa Idaho and never heard this story. Sure wish I had when I was there, for I would have taken the jaunt up the Salmon River to her place. This is the most heart warming story I've read in years. IT will be shared and kept for years for my children and grandchildren. Polly Bemis was one amazing woman. Hats off to her and her memory.

I would have liked the movie to be longer and tell some of the story once Polly and Charlie were together and living by the River of No Return......the Salmon River. I didn't want the story to end when it did. I wanted to see more of their life once they were together too.Left me hanging! I have actually been to their place on the river and looked at the old house they lived in. It is an historical spot and I really enjoyed standing on some of the same land they did. Now I have read the book, seen the movie and actually visited the exact location where they lived.

For a book that is allegedly "used", it is in mint condition, with no markings on the pages (thank goodness) and no turned down corners - in fact it is as good as new. Very pleased with it, particularly as it is a book that I have been after for some time; after seeing an excellent film about Lalu Nathoy (Thousand Pieces of Gold - starring Rosalind Chao as Lalu and Chris Cooper as Charlie), I wanted to know more about this remarkable woman.

I finally found it again, as I couldn't remember the title. It was one of those stories that stick with you.