Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden is a historical fiction novel presented as the autobiography of Sayuri Nitta, a renowned geisha in Kyoto’s Gion district. Set in pre-World War II Japan, it chronicles the life of Chiyo Sakamoto, a poor girl from a remote fishing village who is sold into servitude at age nine and endures harsh training under the cruel geisha Hatsumomo. With mentorship from the elegant Mameha, Chiyo reinvents herself as Sayuri, mastering arts like dance and tea ceremony while navigating rivalries, auctions of her virginity, and a secret love for the enigmatic Chairman, all amid the encroaching war that disrupts geisha life.