by Jung Chang
First published 2019
Jung Chang chronicles the remarkable lives of the three Soong sisters who wielded unprecedented influence during China's turbulent twentieth century. Ei-ling, the eldest, accumulated vast wealth and served as the power behind Chiang Kai-shek's throne. Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, and later became Mao Zedong's vice-chair in the Communist government. May-ling wed Chiang Kai-shek himself, becoming first lady of Nationalist China and a formidable political force. Chang traces their journeys across continents, from Shanghai to Hawaii, New York to Moscow, as China endured wars, revolutions, and massive social upheaval. The author reveals how these three women navigated love affairs, political intrigue, family loyalty, and personal ambition while helping determine their nation's fate. Their story spans secret meetings in Berlin, exile in Japan, Communist party headquarters in Beijing, and the halls of power in Taiwan. Chang offers readers an intimate portrait of sibling rivalry and devotion played out against the backdrop of China's transformation from imperial dynasty to modern nation.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, political-science, china, biography-memoir, 21st-century, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-saga, sibling-rivalry
Setting: Beijing, Berlin, China, Hawaii, Japan, Moscow, New York, Shanghai, Taiwan
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
432 pages · Paperback · Anchor