Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha is the fictional, first person account of a Japanese geisha before and after World War II.

The novel Memoirs of a Geisha tells the almost entire life story of Chiyo a Japanese woman who became a geisha during World War II. It recounts her path into the profession, her years working as a geisha, and eventual immigration to the United States to open her own business.

While the book was a financial success, author Arthur Golden was sued by former geisha Mineko Iwasaki for stealing her own life story. Ultimately, the lawsuit was settled before it was brought to trial.