Four Sisters of Hofei: A History
by Ann-Ping Chin
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The Chang sisters were born between 1908 and 1914. They grew up in an aristocratic, highly traditional household - their ancestral home in Hofei was so extensive that the staff included vegetarian cooks as well as normal cooks, seamstresses, washerwomen, nurses and tutors as well as the usual retinue of servants and nannies. But at the same time, the girls were raised progressively by their parents, who gave them a thorough education and sent them to university. Brought up in an ancient show more world, faced with an increasingly modern one, the four sisters - who are still alive today - have witnessed the dissolution of old China, whose customs they clearly remember and whose stories they vividly tell, experienced the political hell of the Mao years (one of the sisters married a famous novelist who was persecuted during the Cultural Revolution) and witnessed China's newer transition towards a more capitalist society. The Four Sisters of Hofei is the story of these four exceptional sisters - their traditional childhood, young adulthood in the thirties, their very different marriages and careers - and through them a gripping story of China's turbulent twentieth century.Annping Chin was born in Taiwan in 1950 and moved to Virginia with her family in 1962. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This is the biography of four sisters who were born in China between 1908 and 1914.
Their story is set amidst the tapestry of Chinese culture, Chinese history, and class.
I love how Chin wove all of those elements together. With excerpts from Chinese classics, Chinese opera, and poetry, Chin placed a subtle emphasis on culture. On the chapters focusing on the nurse-nannies and other servants, she made the lives of the serving class important as well. These elements never took over the story, but added great flavor, like a well-seasoned dish.
Their story is set amidst the tapestry of Chinese culture, Chinese history, and class.
I love how Chin wove all of those elements together. With excerpts from Chinese classics, Chinese opera, and poetry, Chin placed a subtle emphasis on culture. On the chapters focusing on the nurse-nannies and other servants, she made the lives of the serving class important as well. These elements never took over the story, but added great flavor, like a well-seasoned dish.
Title explains it all. True story. Not nearly as good as the others I've read but I did learn some more cultural things. Probably wont keep this one.
Disappointed with this book. I had hopd to read a lot more about their culture. Put it down partway through. I
Schitterend begin: de bruiloft van het ouderpaar, ook beschikbaar als voorpublikatie. Later verzandt het verhaal in de ellende en de aanbandenlegging van de Kulturele Revolutie, wordt het meer een verslaggeving van het leven van de meisjes, minder een bevlogen roman. Misleidend begin dus.
Dec 27, 2009Dutch
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3+ Works 238 Members
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction, Sexuality and Gender Studies
- DDC/MDS
- 920.051 — History & geography Biography & genealogy Biography, genealogy, insignia General and collective by localities Of Asia China
- LCC
- CT3710 .C485 — Auxiliary Sciences of History Biography Biography Biography. By subject Biography of women (Collective)
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 117
- Popularity
- 276,610
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (2.82)
- Languages
- Chinese, Dutch, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 1
