I have never understood Communism. More to the point, I have never been interested in the history of any country after Communism took over–not Russia, and certainly not China. However, Chang’s account brings the successes of Communism and the subsequent horrors of Mao to life. Her writing is honest, sensitive, and heartbreaking. She begins with the story of her grandmother, who was a concubine to a warlord and later beloved wife to a Manchu doctor. Most of the rest of the book is the story of her mother, who became enthralled with Communist ideology and fought for its rise to power, and her father, a strict and morally upright Communist who was condemned when he finally spoke against Mao’s abuses and was driven mad by the subsequent persecution. The turbulence and the rapid changes, as well as the confusion and chaos they caused, are perfectly captured. I could sense Chang’s frustration every time she noted that even though she knew things were wrong, her indoctrination would not allow her to believe any wrong lay with Mao. Thanks to Wild Swans, I finally understand how 900 million people can come under the full control of one megalomaniacal madman and be unable to question him. It definitely isn’t a happy book, even though Chang and her siblings eventually are able to exercise their intellectual freedom by studying abroad, and her mother is once again accepted as a good Communist and a good person. It is, however, interesting and informative, and should be a must for any Asian scholar. Had I read this during my East Asia History class, I might actually have learned something!

Tags: China, injustice, Jung Chang, politics