Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Hisorical Novel

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I am making my first trip to China April 22 and love historical novels in the genre of Gone With the Wind and The Good Earth. Does anyone have a good novel suggestion which would enrich my trip? Going to Guilin, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Yangtse River.

There was a lot of discussion of books to read for china on here last year. Do some digging and see if you can turn that old discussion up. I know I spent 6 months reading and it was fabulous...I was sooo smart when I arrived and then just learned a ton more. I know there was one book..Something with Swans in the title. Its about 3 generations of women and if you read only one book read this one....It gives you a lot of history w/ the story. I"m sure others will help...but also see if you can dig out that old discussion. Good luck.

I think the poster above is talking about Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. It is an excellent book. Other good choices would be: Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng - one woman's true story of life during the Cultural Revolution The Soong Sisters by Emily Hahn - fascinating story of the Soong family and the three sisters, all educated at Wesleyan College in the US in the early 1900's. One married Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai Shek, one married a Chinese finance minister. Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah - sad and true story of an unwanted daughter in a wealthy Shanghai family in the 1930's. Dream of the Red Chamber - Chinese classic Sun Tzu on the Art of War - very timely today On a Chinese Screen, Somerset Maugham - short stories about China in the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century There is an author named Sterling Seagrave who has written a number of no-fiction books on China's past and future that you might find interesting. He has a way of making history come alive. My favourites are Dragon Lady, about the Empress Dowager, and Pacific Destiny, which discusses the rise of the Pacific Rim nations generally, especially China. Movies: The Last Emperor The Joy Luck Club Raise the Red Lantern (Mandarin with English subtitles) The Oilmaker's Wife (Mandarin, with English subtitles) Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (Mandarin, with English subtitles)

Wonderful list. Thank you very much. I bought the first one today!

Yes yes..thank you Cicerone. Wild Swans.....read that above all...its fabulous. I read many of the ones Cicerone listed: Life & Death is excellent as is the S. Sisters and read a couple things by S. Seagrave.....C is right..he does make history come alive. There is also a bio on Mao by his dr..which is interesting and a fast read...gad...if only I had kept my lists...sorry!! As far as videos go...there is quite a wonderful Chinese movie industry and many many good movies to watch. King of Masks is one of the best I think...but there are others as well. Get the ones w/ subtitles so you can really appreciate the energy of the acting. I think I watched 12 movies in one weekend and loved them all but one! Hit the video store!

A really fascinating book about the Yangzte River is called River at the Center of the World: A Journey Up the Yangzte and Back in Chinese Time. It is by Simon Winchester.