The Poker Bride is a mesmerizing and captivating journey of Lalu Nathoy, a young Cantonese woman who was sent to America to marry a wealthy Chinese merchant. Instead, she found herself living in a brothel in San Francisco, where she learned the game of poker and became a pioneering entrepreneur in the Wild West. Nathoy, also known as Polly, was one of the first Chinese women to establish a business in the West.
This book is not just about Nathoy's story, but it's also about the thousands of Chinese immigrants who made the long journey to America hoping for a better life. Corbett captures the struggles, discrimination, and hardships that the Chinese faced in America, including the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Comstock Law, which deemed Chinese immigrants as immoral and disreputable.
Corbett also documents accounts of Chinese miners who worked in harsh conditions in gold mines, building railroads, and other laborious jobs. He also describes the cultural clashes between Chinese immigrants and white Americans, including the infamous Chinese massacre of 1871 in Los Angeles.
The Poker Bride is an important reminder of the social and political challenges that the early Chinese immigrants faced, and how they overcame them to establish themselves in America. It's also a story of resilience, courage, and entrepreneurship of individuals like Nathoy who paved the way for future generations of Chinese Americans.
If you're interested in learning more about the Chinese immigrant experience in the American West, The Poker Bride is a must-read. This book is an excellent addition to anyone's China Notebook or Note Book, as it provides insight into a lesser-known chapter in American history.