Stories Behind the Headlines

In 1931, American author Pearl Buck, who grew up in China, published a daring novel that gave the world a glimpse into its mysteries. In The Good Earth , she featured many of the shocking sights that she had witnessed first hand, like the ancient practice of footbinding.

For 1,000 years, over 4 and a half billion Chinese women had endured this torturous practice. Considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and beauty, the perfect adult woman's foot was no longer than 3 inches!

"I had no idea that it was this small!" — Oprah

Dig into The Good Earth to uncover the culture of footbinding and more!