Book Review: On Gold Mountain by Lisa See
On Gold Mountain by Lisa See departs from fiction to tell the extraordinary true story of the author’s own family — a sweeping, multigenerational narrative that traces their journey from rural China to the heart of Los Angeles. With both historical precision and emotional intimacy, See explores themes of identity, immigration, belonging, and the resilience of the human spirit.
At the center of the book is Fong See, Lisa See’s great-grandfather, a Chinese immigrant who defied the odds — and exclusionary laws — to become a successful businessman in America. His marriage to Lettice Pruett, a white woman from Oregon, was not only socially defiant but also deeply complex, as their love story unfolds against a backdrop of racial tension and cultural collision.
Through the lens of her family’s experiences, See offers a richly detailed portrait of Chinese American life over the course of a century. She brings to life the struggles her ancestors faced — from discriminatory immigration laws and economic hardship to the emotional toll of cultural dislocation. But this is not just a chronicle of suffering; it is also a celebration of survival, adaptation, and the ways families carry their stories forward.
See’s research is meticulous, drawn from letters, photographs, interviews, and family lore. Her writing is both honest and lyrical, striking a perfect balance between historical fact and personal reflection. What emerges is a deeply human story — one that mirrors the broader narrative of Chinese immigration to the United States, but is rooted in the intimate details of love, sacrifice, and perseverance.
On Gold Mountain is not only a valuable contribution to the history of Chinese Americans — it is a tender tribute to the generations who came before, and the enduring strength of family.
About On Gold Mountain by Lisa See
In 1867, Lisa See’s great-great-grandfather arrived in America, where he prescribed herbal remedies to immigrant laborers who were treated little better than slaves. His son Fong See later built a mercantile empire and married a Caucasian woman, in spite of laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Lisa herself grew up playing in her family’s antiques store in Los Angeles’s Chinatown, listening to stories of missionaries and prostitutes, movie stars and Chinese baseball teams.
See’s family history encompasses secret marriages, entrepreneurial genius, romance, racism, and much more, as two distinctly different cultures meet in a new world in this “lovingly rendered…vivid tableau of a family and an era”
