The Ming Garden Whisper

By: Cassandra Gaisford

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

★★★★★ “Beautifully written and deeply moving, this novel bridges cultures and generations with the grace of a brushstroke. A triumph.”

A forgotten masterpiece. A hidden voice. A journey across time

When struggling art historian and wallpaper designer Lily Chang inherits a trunk from her late great-grandmother, she discovers fragments of an 18th-century Chinese wallpaper known as Ming Garden. Once a breathtaking centerpiece in publishing tycoon Condé Nast’s Park Avenue ballroom, the wallpaper holds secrets hidden in its brushstrokes—stories of its journey from Qing Dynasty China to European estates and, eventually, her great-grandmother’s attic in New York.

As Lily embarks on a quest to restore the masterpiece, she uncovers more than just its historical significance. The wallpaper whispers tales of Lin Mei, the forgotten artisan who painted it, and of Margaret Chang, her great-grandmother who preserved it during her own struggles. Through the delicate layers of silk and pigment, Lily begins to find her place in the world, connected to the strength and creativity of the women who came before her.

The Ming Garden Whisper is a sweeping story perfect for fans of Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Susan Vreeland’s The Passion of Artemisia, and books about art restoration, forgotten artists, and family secrets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cassandra Gaisford is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning author and artist celebrated for her ability to weave art, history, and emotion into her captivating novels. Her art-related novels invite readers to explore the transformative power of creativity, often delving into the lives of iconic artists or the hidden stories behind their works. Fans of her fiction praise her for richly textured narratives, vibrant characters, and her talent for transporting readers to breathtakingly vivid settings, from Renaissance ateliers to modern-day art studios.