Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

What an eye-opener into the fictionalized life of an actual woman in 15th century China. Lady Tan, under the tutelage of her doctor grandparents, became a female doctor specializing in treating women. Lady Tan was a remarkable human being and her life as a medical professional made for a fascinating read.

The graphic description of the Chinese tradition of foot-binding of young girls made me at turns horrified and outraged. This practice proved an effective way to actually and figuratively "hobble" Chinese women of the upper class. In contrast, the invention of the first smallpox vaccination involving the Chinese practice of variolation, deliberate exposure of a healthy person to diseased scabs, ground up and blown into a person's nose, impressed me immensely. 

All in all, this book was such a satisfying and illuminating historical fiction read. I have recommended it to several friends and family members. And the cover art - gorgeous!