Old Shanghai and the clash of revolution / X.L. Woo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Woo, X. L.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Revolutions--Social aspects--China--Shanghai--History--20th century.

Revolutions.

English teachers--China--Shanghai--Biography.

English teachers.

Authors, Chinese--Biography.

Authors, Chinese.

Immigrants--United States--Biography.

Immigrants.

Shanghai (China)--Biography.

Shanghai (China).

Shanghai (China)--Social life and customs--20th century.

China--History--1949-1976--Biography.

China.

China--History--1976-2002--Biography.

Woo, X. L.

Woo, X. L--Family.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (246 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York : Algora Pub., 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Life in Shanghai played out against a backdrop of shifting political maneuvers until World War II burned off the patina that had made 'Old Shanghai' a world unto itself. In this personal history we follow one man through Japan's conquest of Shanghai in 1937 to the Chinese civil war and Communist takeover, Mao's desperate attempts to modernize a medieval country and Deng Xiaoping's opening the economy but not social freedoms. The protagonist lees burgeoning corruption and makes it to the United States to see for himself what the tales of freedom and democracy might offer.

Contents:

Childhood of Genghua in a capitalist family

Life little Genghua remembered under Japanese occupation

How Chinese people keep their festivals before 1949

Life of Wu family before Communist Party takes over Shanghai

The first two political movements have no effect on Wu family

How capitalists get first financial blow & how Genghua fares in middle school

Genghua's friend returns to Germany & capitalists get second financial blow

Anti-rightist movement has little effect on Wu family

The great leap-forward & steel-making movement

Genghua learns English from some old scholars & makes new friends

Tours in West-Suburb Park & to Suzhou City

Genghua makes more friends & Mrs. Wu's afraid to bribe the policeman

Capitalists get final financial blow in Cultural Revolution

Rebels seize power of local governments & armed fights begin the nation over

How Wu family fares in later period of Cultural Revolution

Wu family seeks help for permits to Hong Kong & Lin Biao dies

Genghua starts to translate classics & Cultural Revolution ends

Genghua gets jobs & shows his talent in English teaching

Genghua's friend Bai helps to get permits for his mother and brother to go to Hong Kong

Genghua gets married

How Genghua and his wife live and work

Genghua publishes his first book & has a daughter

Genghua and his family go to the United States.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-87586-998-X

OCLC:

857365295