Miss Nume of Japan: A Japanese-American Romance (1899)

The first known novel by an Asian-American, Miss Nume of Japan charts the romantic history of two couples, one Japanese and one American. The Japanese couple, though not really in love, has been betrothed since childhood. The relationship of the second couple, a beautiful American and her fiance, is troubled and unhappy. Through a series of coincidental encounters, the couples find opportunities to escape these loveless relationships. Although tragic events unfold, her spirit enables the title character to triumph in her search for liberation and true happiness. Now available in paperback, Miss Nume of Japan is a work of critical importance to the Asian-American canon and a milestone in the complex history of ethnic formation and literary production.