A Woman Soldier's Own Story

August 27, 2001
In lyrical, flowing prose, this absorbing autobiography interweaves politics, family relations and romance as it chronicles an extraordinary woman's struggle to free herself from traditional Chinese society. Born into a conventional family, Xie Bingying (1906–2000) was expected to be an obedient daughter and, later, daughter-in-law. A girl's education was largely restricted to learning how to spin cotton and embroider. Xie's reading was limited to such books as Teach Your Daughter Traditional Rules. Her fate was to be determined by her parents and a matchmaker. From an early age, Xie rebelled against these circumstances. Despite her mother's scolding, she dared to venture outside to play with the boys, and she fought fiercely against having her feet bound. In this chronicle of the first 32 years of her life, gracefully translated by her daughter and son-in-law, Xie recounts her efforts to secure an education, escape from an arranged marriage, raise an infant while a single mother and, chiefly, forge political change in China as a soldier in the National Revolutionary Army fighting the warlords who dominated much of China in the 1920s, and against the Japanese in the 1930s. Drawn to the bohemian life, Xie scoffed at financial and physical security, and gloried in her image as a "warrior who opposes all feudal rule," even when her choices summoned hunger, loneliness and imprisonment. The happiest day of her early life, she recalls, was the day in 1928 when her War Diary
was published. She went on to become a noted author of novels, other autobiographical works and essays. This story of a Chinese feminist makes social and political issues of 20th-century China dramatically accessible to the lay reader. 12 photos, 3 maps.

Starred review from September 15, 2001
The efforts of women to emancipate themselves from restrictive social and family bonds is one of the central themes of modern Chinese history. A high degree of grit, intelligence, perseverance, and luck was required to succeed, particularly in the early decades of the 20th century. Xie Bingying had all those qualities in spades. Like a rocket escaping the pull of gravity, she hurtled from the remote village in central China where she was born in 1906 to a bohemian existence in urban China and eventually to a successful career as a teacher, essayist, novelist, and social activist. In 1927, she became a soldier in the Nationalist Army during its famous Northern Expedition. Her vivid and emotionally charged memoir, covering the first third of her life, was first published in China 60 years ago and is translated here by her daughter and son-in-law. An exemplar of the "new woman," Xie was an idealist and a romantic given to florid writing that matches the impressive melodrama of her life. For larger public and academic libraries. [Although sympathizing with the ideals of the Communist party, Xie Bingying was not a Communist and moved to Taiwan in 1948, becoming an ardent opponent of Mao. Ed.] Steven I. Levine, Univ. of Montana, Missoula

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2001
Born in 1906 in Xietuoshan, Xie Bingying demonstrated tenacity and decisiveness from a very early age despite the feudalistic Chinese society into which she was born. She was the daughter of a scholar and a traditional mother. Xie's feet were bound at the age of eight, and she was forced into an arranged marriage contract, but she would not allow any of these customs to tether her future. She sacrificed reputation, family, and love for the pursuit of books and literacy, and she threatened to kill herself if her needs were not met. Xie's unflinching character is demonstrated in her fearlessness as a soldier during Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expedition and her zealous battle for truth and diplomacy in China. She was a tireless warrior on the front lines and a dedicated writer who endured poverty and endangered her life for propagation of the written word. As a potent feminist, she feared the vulnerability of love and its power to divert her from the path to enlightenment. Xie died in January of 2000 while her autobiography was being translated.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)