The Great Flowing River

June 15, 2018

Chi (emeritus, English & comparative literature, National Taiwan Univ.) offers a sweeping memoir of her life in China and Taiwan in this extraordinarily detailed look at the experience of a Chinese national during the war with Japan, a time of significant political and social upheaval. Taking a roughly chronological approach, the author depicts the nomadic life of a refugee family escaping Japanese invasion as well as her development as a student during wartime. Poignant recollections of poetry and correspondence with relatives and friends serving on the front lines underscore Chi's reflections about her changing beliefs and impulses. Her experiences of loss, hardship, and educational advancement are contextualized within the broader social and political changes brought about by World War II, the Chinese Communist Revolution, and its aftermath. The second half traces Chi's life in Taiwan, her work as a teacher, her teaching fellowships in America, her marriage and family life, and the dramatic changes happening in Taiwan during the second half of the 20th century. VERDICT An engaging read for those interested in memoir, 20th-century Chinese and Taiwanese history, and Chinese culture.--Rebecca Brody, Westfield State Univ., MA

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