This is the story about the affair that inspired the film M. Butterfly. It is the perplexing tale of Bernard Boursicot--a French diplomat who had a long-standing affair with a Chinese opera singer named Pei Pu. Sounds pedestrian enough, right? But what makes his story so bizarre is the fact that while he thought he was having an affair with a woman, Pei Pu was actually a man.
Joyce Wadler is a journalist and does an excellent job with the story--giving the reader a thorough look at Boursicot's life, as well as asking the questions that need to be asked.
Joyce Wadler is a journalist and does an excellent job with the story--giving the reader a thorough look at Boursicot's life, as well as asking the questions that need to be asked.
