I can't do this book justice, which is a pity, because I'm in such a rush.
Emily Hahn was an American writer who accompanied her sister to Shanghai in the early '30's, on her way to Africa (which she loved). She fell in love with Shanghai and couldn't bring herself to leave. Shanghai in the thirties was full of foreigners and had an intriguing cafe society that mixed folks of many nationalities and classes. I can see why she found that a heady and fascinating mix.
After several years in Shanghai, she traveled to Chiangking (sp?) to write a biography of the Soong Sisters (Mrs. Sun Yat-Sen (sp?), Madame Chang Kai-shek, and Madame Kung, three sister married to the most important politicians in China at that time). Through her contacts she knew an amazing number of people.
Then she traveled to Hong Kong, planning to return to Shanghai shortly thereafter .. but her plans changed and she ending up staying in Hong Kong much longer than she intended and was there when the Japanese took the city.
Emily Hahn had a fascinating love life, which she touches on glancingly here. As much as I might have liked details (okay, I longed for them, and explanations, too), I think that she took care to tread a fine line between honestly and openness .. after all, she had a child by the time she wrote this account, shortly after returning to America in 1944.
In Hong Kong, there was an amazing diverse population as well. Her account of the Japanese occupation is fascinating, as well.
Hahn's fascinating life seems to have grown out of her fascinating character. She was described, on the back of my paperback copy of China to Me, as a "citizen of the world," and I think that must be true. She got on with an amazingly diverse group of people and I think part of this must have been a writer's fascinating with observation. To my view, she was far ahead of her time and a great adventuress, and this story reads like an adventure story, full of event. She's a wonderful storyteller, and if you like tales of wartime hardship or adventuresome lasses, I recommend this book to you.
Emily Hahn was an American writer who accompanied her sister to Shanghai in the early '30's, on her way to Africa (which she loved). She fell in love with Shanghai and couldn't bring herself to leave. Shanghai in the thirties was full of foreigners and had an intriguing cafe society that mixed folks of many nationalities and classes. I can see why she found that a heady and fascinating mix.
After several years in Shanghai, she traveled to Chiangking (sp?) to write a biography of the Soong Sisters (Mrs. Sun Yat-Sen (sp?), Madame Chang Kai-shek, and Madame Kung, three sister married to the most important politicians in China at that time). Through her contacts she knew an amazing number of people.
Then she traveled to Hong Kong, planning to return to Shanghai shortly thereafter .. but her plans changed and she ending up staying in Hong Kong much longer than she intended and was there when the Japanese took the city.
Emily Hahn had a fascinating love life, which she touches on glancingly here. As much as I might have liked details (okay, I longed for them, and explanations, too), I think that she took care to tread a fine line between honestly and openness .. after all, she had a child by the time she wrote this account, shortly after returning to America in 1944.
In Hong Kong, there was an amazing diverse population as well. Her account of the Japanese occupation is fascinating, as well.
Hahn's fascinating life seems to have grown out of her fascinating character. She was described, on the back of my paperback copy of China to Me, as a "citizen of the world," and I think that must be true. She got on with an amazingly diverse group of people and I think part of this must have been a writer's fascinating with observation. To my view, she was far ahead of her time and a great adventuress, and this story reads like an adventure story, full of event. She's a wonderful storyteller, and if you like tales of wartime hardship or adventuresome lasses, I recommend this book to you.
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