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  • The Rape of Nanking

  • By: Iris Chang
  • Narrated by: Anna Fields
  • Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (263 ratings)

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The Rape of Nanking

By: Iris Chang
Narrated by: Anna Fields
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Publisher's Summary

In December 1937, in the capital of China, one of the most brutal massacres in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. The Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking and within weeks not only looted and burned the defenseless city but systematically raped, tortured and murdered more than 300,000 Chinese civilians. Amazingly, the story of this atrocity- one of the worst in world history- continues to be denied by the Japanese government.  

The Rape of Nanking tells the story from three perspectives: that of the Japanese soldiers who performed it; of the Chinese civilians who endured it; and finally of a group of Europeans and Americans who refused to abandon the city and were able to create a safety zone that saved almost 300,000 Chinese. It was Iris Chang who discovered the diaries of the German leader of this rescue effort, John Rabe, whom she calls the "Oskar Schindler of China." A loyal supporter of Adolf Hitler, but far from the terror planned in his Nazi-controlled homeland, he worked tirelessly to save the innocent from slaughter.

©1997 by Iris Chang (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Rape of Nanking

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Outstanding

This book has had a life changing effect on me! While the book is confronting and the atrocities committed are nothing short of barbarism. The fact that so many people have fought back risking their lives and giving up everything, so the world is aware of the Rape of Nanking is truly inspirational.

Unfortunately this is just one of countless examples of the horrific history of human depravity. It seems that humans are doomed to continue to make the same horrific judgements of error. Which is concerning.

To all the people involved in this book, to the author Iris Chang and the victims of Nanking thankyou for bring this story to peoples attention.

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Facts about the Rape of Nanking , show how people act as beasts in war. Soldiers do a dirty job, this act was not honourable .

Thank you for a book that tells the horrors the people of Nanking lived and died at the hands of extremely poorly trained soldiers. True soldiers will not conduct themselves in such a brutal way. We as a globe community need to read and listen to this disgraceful part of our history. Hopefully such acts aren’t repeated in the future. Thank so much , it must have been painful putting it’s together. Great reading.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

it will bring tears to your eyes

The forgot and covered up history of WII are absolutely horrendous and needs to be known world wide. The Chinese people and government haven't forgotten and will bring more understanding to what may eventuate in the future with China and Japan.

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"a holocaust forgotten is to kill twice"

I'm saddened by Its message but I'm also grateful for its truth and enlightenment on such significant history that must not be forgotten.

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wish I learned this in school

Great book sharing some terrible times of the past. Makes you really grateful for how things are today.

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WOW

I enjoyed this because I learnt so much about my culture. In the end though so much pain and suffering was given and almost turned a blind eye to the world. I will never forget this book Thank you.

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Shocking

Some of the things that went on were very disturbing. A must read that's for sure.

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Ongoing guilt

The compounding guilt of these atrocities on the Chinese by the Japanese, is only increased by Japan’s ongoing efforts to deny it actually happened! I’m very glad we have the evidence collated in books such as this one.

Regarding the audio presentation, the reader was a factually strong choice of voices, but more robotic and cold for such a book.

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It's fine

I have some doubts about historical accuracy and there did appear to be some editorializing in parts. There's no doubt however that what happened in Nanking was an atrocity, a genocide. The author committed suicide not too long after this work was published and it would be no surprise if the research she did to complete this book contributed to her feelings of despair. I didn't really enjoy the narrating, I found the thick American accent out of place with the story.

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A Brutally honest account

A Brutally honest account by information gathered by the author detailing the horrific war crimes committed by the Japanese Army during the occupation of China before the second world war.

Difficult to listen to at times and quite heartbreaking to think that such barbarism could ever be inflicted on not only a civilian population, but on civilian juveniles as well

This book needs to be read by all who have an interest in learning about the hidden attempted genocide covered up by the Japanese propaganda machine since 1937.

Hats off to the people who attempted to stop and report these brutal attacks as they happened, and to the author for collecting these first hand witness accounts to ensure this tragedy does not get lost to history.

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