{"title":"Nicole Ball","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicole Ball\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts compelling historical fiction that vividly brings past eras to life. Her storytelling blends rich detail with immersive characters, inviting readers to explore complex worlds shaped by history and human emotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a sharp eye for atmosphere and an engaging narrative style, Ball’s novels deliver thoughtful explorations of power, loyalty, and ambition. Fans of meticulously researched and evocative historical tales will find much to admire in her work, such as \u003cem\u003eThe Master\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-master-by-david-ball-9781803090627","title":"The Master","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe extraordinary life of Zhuang Zhou sits halfway between fable and philosophy.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“It was twenty-five centuries ago in the land of Song, between the Yellow River and the River Huai: Zhuang Zhou was born without a cry with his eyes wide open.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWelcome to China in the fifth century BCE, a colourful, violent, unstable world into which Zhuang is born. Here, royals raise huge armies, constantly waging wars against one another. They have slaves, concubines. Gold is everywhere. And so is hunger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBorn rich and entitled, Zhuang learns to refuse any official function. His travels bring him closer to ordinary people, from whom he learns how to live a simple and useful life. This is how he will become one of the greatest Chinese philosophers who gave his name to his legendary book, the \u003cem\u003eZhuangzi\u003c\/em\u003e, one of the two foundational texts of Taoism—a magnificent procession of lively stories in which we meet dwarfs, virtuous bandits, butchers, powerful lords in their castles, turtles, charming concubines, and false sages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this remarkable bildungsroman, award-winning French novelist Patrick Rambaud spins out the extraordinary life of Zhuang Zhou—a poetic, cruel, and often humorous tale, halfway between fable and philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47471808643308,"sku":"9781803090627","price":46.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/702cc16c1ec73da8b6e253407a2fa8b7.jpg?v=1775791600"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/nicole-ball.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}