Wild Swans

Three Daughters of China

By: Jung Chang

Narrated by: Joy Osmanski

Length: 22 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Few books have had such an impact as Wild Swans: a popular best seller that has sold more than 13 million copies, a critically acclaimed history of China, a tragic tale of nightmarish cruelty, and an uplifting story of bravery and survival. Through the story of three generations of women in her own family - the grandmother given to the warlord as a concubine, the Communist mother, and the daughter herself - Jung Chang reveals the epic history of China's 20th century. Breathtaking in its scope, unforgettable in its descriptions, this masterpiece is extraordinary in every way.

©2011 Jung Chang (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"An inspiring tale of women who survived every kind of hardship, deprivation and political upheaval with their humanity intact." (Hillary Clinton, in O, The Oprah Magazine)

" Wild Swans is riveting. It's blindingly good: a mad adventure story, a fairy tale of courage, and a tale of atrocities. You can't, as they say, put it down. ( The New Yorker)

Wonderful

It is quite long but amazing, I had to read for a school assignment and this made it easier to do other things while listening.

Loved it!

I knew few details about China and Mao until this book. Wonderfully written and narrated, the story concentrates on the people and how Mao's policies affected them. Class and rank were everything; individuality was basically outlawed. I especially liked the fact that she wrote about three generations. Excellent book!!

I wish I had read this years ago before

At first I was skeptical when listening. But as time went on I realized how informative and hopefully accurate it is. I wish that I had listened to it, to gain a history 10 years ago. It would have given me much more perspective having made several trips of the last few years to China. I hope China opens up again, despite the fact I'm a little pised off about covid. I think history will show the corona virus is the first biological attack on the world.

Fascinating and heartbreaking!

The story of totalitarianism is always the same...exploit greed and jealousy, turn neighbor against neighbor, crush free speech, and reward the unprincipled. A story of incredible heroism and cruelty. I plan on reading all of Jung Chang's books.

Great!

I really don't understand how anyone could be bored by this! What a riveting story! And the narrator was just right. She did not try to express the emotion commensurate with the outrages. To do so would have been inadequate and not in keeping with the tone of the writing. I have for most of my life detested studying history, but as I grow older, books like this one have opened my eyes to the fact that history is really the story of human lives, not memorization of the names and dates of battles! I will be reading her book on Mao.

Great summary of post WW II China told through the eyes and memory of a contemporary

I loved this book, and the way she told the story of post war China through the story of her family.

Wonderful book and great audio-book!

This true account of the lives of the author, her mother, and her grandmother reads like a novel. The story takes the listener through many significant events in modern chinese history through the eyes of these amazing women. You won't be able to stop listening!

Orwell of the E

This book should be a mandatory reading for all high school kids and college kids

Should be Required Reading

What did you love best about Wild Swans?

I grew to care deeply about the people in this family and to root for them. I was so impressed by the survival of their spirits and dignity in the face of humiliation, deprivation, betrayal, and attempts to break them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wild Swans?

There were so many memorable and touching moments, where family members show their love for each other. One that showed tremendous courage was when the mother went to Peking to entreat the ruler to help her husband.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the mother and father lock eyes as the mother is paraded through the streets by her captors.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was deeply moved, sometimes to tears, and found myself wondering how I would feel and what I would do if the events that unfolded happened to me or my loved ones.

Any additional comments?

I wish all students were required to read this book. Readers can relate to the people in the story on a personal level and learn about the dangers of "group think," bullying, of forgoing the rational for a "cause," and, ultimately, of the impact of totalitarianism.

FASCINATING look into Chinese history!

The incredible true story of three generations of women in pre-Communist, Communist, and post-Revolutionary China is FASCINATING. The rise of Chairman Mao and the success of communism through oppressed young girls promising equality is really compelling. How the idealism of communism quickly degrades into suspicion and fear is crazy; the cult of Mao is terrifying and bizarre. Our book club had a field day with this one!