Book jacket blurb:
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China is a family history that spans a century, recounting the lives of three female generations in China. Through the story of three generations of women in her own family – the grandmother given to the warlord as a concubine, the Communist mother, and the daughter herself, Jung Chang reveals the epic history of China’s twentieth century. Breath-taking in its scope, unforgettable in its descriptions, this is a masterpiece which is extraordinary in every way.
Opinion:
This book was gifted to me 25 years ago by a dear friend and it remains one of my all-time favourites. I have read it twice and I think it’s about time for a third outing. As a fan of non-fiction, it was easy for me to pick up but this epic tale of China over the last 100 years reads like a story.
It’s hard to believe, with our Western views, that Grandmother’s feet were being bound, at the same time as women in the UK were getting the vote! The insight into the impact of the Cultural Revolution was especially poignant being from a Chinese perspective, albeit a perspective in opposition to the regime. The book certainly made me reflect and appreciate the time and place in which I live, and the freedom of thought and expression I have.
Even if you’re new to non-fiction, I urge you to pick this one up. It may not always be the most comfortable read, but marvel at the way the three strong women in this book endured such hardship and yet still find their ways to survive and thrive.
- Adult
- Non-fiction
- Biography
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