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Last Boat Out of Shanghai

The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao's Revolution

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Last Boat Out of Shanghai

By: Helen Zia
Narrated by: Nancy Wu
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About this listen

The dramatic real-life stories of four young people caught up in the mass exodus of Shanghai in the wake of China's 1949 Communist revolution.

Shanghai has historically been China's jewel; its richest, most modern, and westernized city. The bustling metropolis was home to sophisticated intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and a thriving middle class when Mao's proletarian revolution emerged victorious from the long civil war. Terrified of the horrors the Communists would wreak upon their lives, citizens of Shanghai who could afford to fled in every direction.

Benny, who as a teenager became the unwilling heir to his father's dark wartime legacy, must decide either to escape to Hong Kong or navigate the intricacies of a newly Communist China. The resolute Annuo, forced to flee her home with her father, a defeated Nationalist official, becomes an unwelcome exile in Taiwan. The financially strapped Ho fights deportation from the US in order to continue his studies while his family struggles at home. And Bing, given away by her poor parents, faces the prospect of a new life among strangers in America. The lives of these men and women are marvelously portrayed, revealing the dignity and triumph of personal survival.

©2019 Helen Zia (P)2019 Tantor 20th Century Asia China Emigration & Immigration Modern Refugee Studies Social Sciences Specific Demographics War Imperialism Imperial Japan Chinese Revolution

Critic Reviews

“The dramatic story of four young people who were among the thousands fleeing China after 1949's Communist revolution. Eye-opening.” (People)
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This book was an absolute joy to listen to And. I finish it with both hope and shame at the way in which our own nation, Australia, has played a part in abusing desperate people looking for shelter and refuge.

A Heartwarming and Precious Gift

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This book reveals an insight into the turmoil suffered by the Chinese both within and outside of China.My in laws families escaped to Indonesia so I was very interested to hear this. I hope one day that someone will also write about experiences in the other Chinese refugee countries .

An education

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This book will mean a lot to those who could associate their lives to the stories. The historical backgrounds have become distant past but what the author said in the epilogue are the reasons stories like these are timeless.

Thanks the author who wrote this books.

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