White Chrysanthemum

A captivating, controlled and devastating book about the lives of two Korean sisters during the Second World War… Allows us to look at the immediate travesty of the so-called 'comfort women' and the unresolved consequences of sexual slavery for the victims' families. Brave, bold, important, this book is beautifully written with characters that will stay with you long after the final, unforgettable paragraph

Jackie Copleton, author of A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding

Elegantly written, emotionally shattering, and historically accurate, White Chrysanthemum is a feat of literary alchemy. Mary Lynn Bracht reveals the unfathomable cruelty of Japanese sex slavery during World War II through the unbreakable love of Korean sisters

Blaine Harden, New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Camp 14

White Chrysanthemum is a powerful account of a little discussed subject about the Second World War -- comfort women enslaved by the Japanese army -- but it’s also about the courage of the women involved who want to speak about their suffering and their cry for justice, peace and love. Hana’s tragic life is just one of an estimated 200,000 Korean comfort women’s stories. Beautifully written, it’s an impressive debut novel from a writer with a sensitive heart and gifted mind

Xiaolu Guo

I read Hana and Emi's story with my heart in my mouth... A bold, devastating, important novel shot through with hope and beauty

Rachel Joyce

A deeply moving read about the savage cruelty of war, and the perseverance of love

Alice O'Keefe, The Bookseller

Masterfully crafted, Bracht's mesmerizing debut novel is rich with historical detail and depth of emotion. this is a memorable story about the courage of Korean women during the Second World War

Publishers' Weekly

Suspenseful and eye-opening... In this story of a community nearly obliterated by war but saved by the strength of will of generations of women, Bracht humanizes tragedy while highlighting important social issues. Once they devour this book, readers will be looking for more

Library Journal (Starred Review)

A hugely affecting, captivating read -- I cried for most of the second half

Sarah Shaffi, Stylist

Devastatingly good

Psychologies

Offers a valuable insight into a neglected area of history... epic

Anthony Gardner, Daily Mail

An evocative picture of loss and also an account of how one of the deepest human bonds can survive almost anything

James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme

I read it in one sitting

Kate Kellaway, Observer

Brave, bold, important

Jackie Copleton, author of A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding

An impressive debut novel from a writer with a sensitive heart and gifted mind

Xiaolu Guo, a Granta Best of Young British Novelists

An emotional tale of sisterly endurance and a fascinating and harrowing insight into the hidden lives of Korean comfort women... you’ll be captivated. Let the bidding for movie rights begin

The Pool

A soul-churning ode to the power of family love (and the ties that bind sisters specifically) and the importance of pursuing justice in the face of systemic silence... an unflinching-but-ultimately-redemptive book that places a much-needed spotlight on a forgotten moment of human horror

Emerald Street

Beautifully written... In elegant but emotionally devastating prose Bracht conveys the heartbreaking impact of brutality and war upon women

Charlotte Heathcote, Sunday Express

If you're a fan of The Kite Runner and Memoirs of A Geisha, you'll love Mary Lynn Bracht's novel... Both educating and engaging, Bracht’s rich detail and captivating characters plunge you into Korean history in a heartbreaking and deeply emotional page-turner

Rebecca Wilcock, i newspaper

Bracht brings the truth to light with sensitivity... Bracht's beautiful descriptions are the perfect foil to the brutality... fascinating

Express

A fascinating debut

Elizabeth Archer, Daily Express

What a story this terrific storyteller has to tell

Woman & Home

Introduces a heart-rending seam of history… Bracht has fashioned her own memorial to the comfort women. White Chrysanthemum is a timely and furiously felt book

Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, Guardian

Bracht's rich detail and captivating characters bring history vividly to life. An insightful, engaging and deeply emotional page-turner

Scotsman

A captivating, beautiful debut. Warning: you'll shed many tears

Book Club

A captivating, beautiful debut. Warning: you’ll shed many tears

Jennifer McShane, Image

an original, shocking novel, contrasting mankind’s capacity for cruelty with the unquenchable strength ofthe human spirit, even in the most dire of circumstances

Richard Hopton, Country & Town House

It's jaw-dropping, it's devastating, it's heart-breaking and absolutely beautiful. I couldn't recommend it more

Sinead Moriarty

I would also recommend Mary-Lynn Bracht’s novel White Chrysanthemum, a story of family separation in Korea during the 20th century. I learned a lot about Korean culture in this book, but it also has a sweeping story that captivates the reader

John Boyne, Irish Times Summer Reads

A harrowing and powerful read, offering an insight into the widespread suffering of others during the war

Vogue