Explore the captivating history and cultural transformations of China through a collection of rediscovered memoirs and reportage. From the tumultuous 1940s to the Cultural Revolution, these firsthand accounts offer unique perspectives on a nation in flux.
Eland, an English publisher, is known for unearthing fascinating and forgotten material, often shedding light on lost worlds. One such discovery is a collection of reportage by Martha Gellhorn, chronicling her travels through China in the 1940s alongside Ernest Hemingway. This personal journey offers a unique glimpse into China during a period of immense turmoil—civil war and Japanese occupation.
Gellhorn and Hemingway, seasoned war reporters, traversed the country, visiting Chongqing, the nationalist capital, where they met prominent figures like Zhou Enlai and Chiang Kai-shek. Their firsthand accounts paint a vivid picture of a nation grappling with change and conflict.Another captivating read from Eland is David Kidd's 'Peking Story.' Kidd, a young man at the time, lived in Beijing in the 1940s, marrying into a prominent Beijing family. His memoir provides a poignant narrative of life under the old regime and the dramatic shift that occurred with the Communist takeover in 1949. He vividly describes the family's luxurious lifestyle in their grand mansion, but his story poignantly illustrates the erosion of their world as the new government encroaches.Frances Wood, a former curator of Chinese collections at the British Library, offers a unique perspective in 'Hand-Grenade Practice in Peking.' As one of the first foreign students to study in China during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution, Wood recounts her experiences as a worker-peasant student, including the surreal task of practicing with mock hand grenades. Her detached and deadpan style adds an unexpected layer to her account of this extraordinary period.Aube Rey Lescure's 'River East, River West' delves into the identity crisis of Alva, a teenager with American and Chinese heritage. As an author with a mixed background herself, Rey Lescure masterfully explores the complexities of cultural identity. The story unfolds across different decades, offering a poignant and insightful portrait of China's evolution.John Blofeld's 'City of Lingering Splendor' is a heartfelt reminiscence of old Peking. Blofeld, who lived in China as a young man from 1934 onwards, paints a captivating picture of his experiences and his deep affection for the city. His vivid descriptions, particularly of a snowy winter dinner near the Temple of Heaven, transport the reader to a bygone era
Travel Literature CHINA HISTORY MEMOIR TRAVEL LITERATURE CULTURAL REVOLUTION WAR REPORTING
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