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  • Mao's Last Dancer

  • By: Li Cunxin
  • Narrated by: Paul English
  • Length: 15 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (172 ratings)

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Mao's Last Dancer cover art

Mao's Last Dancer

By: Li Cunxin
Narrated by: Paul English
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Publisher's Summary

This is the true story of how one moment in time, by the thinnest thread of a chance, changed the course of a small boy's life in ways that are beyond description. One day he would dance with some of the greatest ballet companies of the world. One day he would be a friend to a president and first lady, movie stars, and the most influential people in America. One day he would become a star: Mao's last dancer, and the darling of the West. Here is Li Cunxin's own story, a beautiful, rich account of an inspirational life, told with honesty, dignity, and pride.
©2003 Li Cunxin (P)2004 Bolinda Publishing Pyt Ltd by arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia)

Critic Reviews

"[A] heartening rags-to-riches story." (Publishers Weekly)

"[Paul English] exercises such an intense and masterful concentration on the text that the listener's interest never flags.... He imbues the narrative with ingenuousness and enthusiasm, which endearingly befit the image Li is attempting to present of himself. The result is an audiobook that is superior to its source." (AudioFile

What listeners say about Mao's Last Dancer

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An extraordinary account of Li Cunxin's life

As a young peasant boy growing up in a remote village in Northern China, becoming a ballet dancer is furthest from Li Cunxin's mind.

Li's story about how ballet changed the course of his life and his freedom, is extraordinary and a story everyone will enjoy.

The narrator Paul English, was excellent and he had me captivated the whole time listening to Li's story.

I loved this personal account of Li's life and challenges during the Chinese Communist regime.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who is willing to listen to such an amazing story.

Thank you Audible for making this story into our Audio libraries.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

Heartbreaking and so beautiful. I laughed, cried, empathised and marvelled at this Man’s amazing story. Thank you Li Cunxin for sharing

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

He is a dancer not a writer.

This book read like a show. Some parts feel pretending things.
I hate the way he describe he love the freedom in America. Are you loving the freedom or the prosperous life style? Is there any true freedom any where?
I also hate he describe his brothers live in poor financial and mental conditions compare to him, because American is a premium country compare to China? Is this the point you making?
After all, you are against law when your visa expired but not returning to your country. Your chinese dancer friend went lawfully aboard afterwards, like Ben said, you can return later. Why do you have to push it over the boundary? Afterall, you lucky busted.
Thumb up lots vivid stories with immense details, some humor made me laugh for days.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb!

What a richly evocative recollection of an amazing man’s life. Truly inspirational! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good story of course but terrible pronunciations

god awful mis pronunciation of the words and chinese phrases. Audible should be embarassed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

loved it. a must read! a touching tale that starts in communist China into capitalist America and sees the changes in china from a distance

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story

Interesting story told beautifully. As someone who lives in a different country to which they grew up, it brought tears to my eyes in parts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone needs to read this book, you won’t regret it.

An eye opening account to what life to less privileged people of the world endure and have encountered. How we are so privileged to live in our western world of freedom.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Dan
  • 19-09-2020

sensational

Brilliant read full of hope, courage and persistence highly recommend to any reader from any walk of life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I could not stop listening.

I totally loved this book. What an inspirational and fascinating life. Very emotional and well narrated.

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