Memoirs of a Geisha
Arthur Golden's sole published standalone novel and his acclaimed debut.
Author guide
Arthur Golden Books in Order
Arthur Golden is an American novelist born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He studied Japanese art at Harvard College, Japanese history at Columbia University, and English at Boston University, and worked in Tokyo after studying in Beijing. His debut novel, Memoirs of a Geisha, was published in 1997 and became an international bestseller.
historical fictionliterary fiction
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Novels (1)
- Memoirs of a Geisha
novel · 1997
Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual…
Frequently asked questions about Arthur Golden
Who is Arthur Golden?
Arthur Golden is an American novelist born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, best known for his debut novel, Memoirs of a Geisha.
What did Arthur Golden study before becoming a novelist?
He studied art history, specializing in Japanese art, at Harvard College; earned a Japanese-history master’s degree from Columbia; worked in Tokyo after studying in Beijing; and later earned an English master’s degree from Boston University.
What inspired Arthur Golden to write about geisha?
His interest grew from studying Japanese language and culture and from meeting, while working in Tokyo, a man whose mother was a geisha. Later, interviews with retired Kyoto geisha Mineko Iwasaki fundamentally reshaped his understanding of the subject and his novel’s development.
What awards or honors has Arthur Golden received?
The American Academy of Achievement lists Golden as a Golden Plate honoree in its 2000s roster, identifying him as the author of Memoirs of a Geisha.
What is Arthur Golden’s literary legacy?
His legacy is closely tied to the wide reach of Memoirs of a Geisha, which its publisher describes as a literary sensation and runaway bestseller. Harvard Gazette records that the novel was later adapted into a film, extending its audience beyond readers.
Sources: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)news.harvard.edu (opens in a new tab)