China Witness

Voices from a Silent Generation

By Xinran | Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

About the book

China Witness is a remarkable work of oral history that lets us see the cultural upheavals of the past century through the eyes of the Chinese who lived through them. 

Xinran, acclaimed author of The Good Women of China, traveled across China seeking out the nation’s grandparents and great-grandparents, the men and women who experienced firsthand the tremendous changes of the modern era. Although many of them feared repercussions, they spoke with stunning candor about their hopes, fears, and struggles, and about what they witnessed: from the Long March to land reform, from Mao to marriage, from revolution to Westernization. In the same way that Studs Terkel’s Working and Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation gave us the essence of very particular times, China Witness gives us the essence of modern China—a portrait more intimate, nuanced, and revelatory than any we have had before.

Editions of China Witness

Hardcover
ISBN 9780701180393
Hardcover
ISBN 9780375425479
Paperback
ISBN 9780701180409
Paperback
ISBN 9780307388537
Paperback
ISBN 9780099501480
EBook
ISBN 9780307378040

Read an Excerpt

China Witness is a remarkable work of oral history that lets us see the cultural upheavals of the past century through the eyes of the Chinese who lived through them. 

Xinran, acclaimed author of The Good Women of China, traveled across China seeking out the nation’s grandparents and great-grandparents, the men and women who experienced firsthand the tremendous changes of the modern era. Although many of them feared repercussions, they spoke with stunning candor about their hopes, fears, and struggles, and about what they witnessed: from the Long March to land reform, from Mao to marriage, from revolution to Westernization. In the same way that Studs Terkel’s Working and Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation gave us the essence of very particular times, China Witness gives us the essence of modern China—a portrait more intimate, nuanced, and revelatory than any we have had before.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is China Witness about?

China Witness is a remarkable work of oral history that lets us see the cultural upheavals of the past century through the eyes of the Chinese who lived through them. 

Xinran, acclaimed author of The Good Women of China, traveled across China seeking out the nation’s grandparents and great-grandparents, the men and women who experienced firsthand the tremendous changes of the modern era. Although many of them feared repercussions, they spoke with stunning candor about their hopes, fears, and struggles, and about what they witnessed: from the Long March to land reform, from Mao to marriage, from revolution to Westernization. In the same way that Studs Terkel’s Working and Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation gave us the essence of very particular times, China Witness gives us the essence of modern China—a portrait more intimate, nuanced, and revelatory than any we have had before.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in China Witness?

History and Archaeology > History > Asian history

Where can I read a sample of China Witness?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780701180393

Who is/are the Author/s of the book China Witness?

Xinran

Who is the Publisher of the book China Witness?

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

China Witness is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780701180393) and hardcover(ISBN 9780375425479) and paperback(ISBN 9780701180409) and paperback(ISBN 9780307388537) and paperback(ISBN 9780099501480) and ebook(ISBN 9780307378040)

Where can I buy China Witness online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy China Witness from below

Where can I buy China Witness?