American Goddess at the Rape of Nanking

The Courage of Minnie Vautrin

By: Hua-ling Hu

Narrated by: Karen Huie

The Japanese army's brutal occupation of the city of Nanking during the 1937 Sino-Japanese War is known, for good reason, as the rape of Nanking. As they slaughtered an estimated 300,000 people, the invading soldiers raped more than 20,000 women - some estimates run as high as 80,000. Hua-ling Hu presents here the amazing untold story of the American missionary Minnie Vautrin, whose unswerving defiance of the Japanese protected 10,000 Chinese women and children and made her a legend among the Chinese people she served.

The book is published by Southern Illinois University Press.

©2000 The Board of Trustees, Southern Illinois University (P)2015 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Hu tells Vautrin's inspirational story in spare but powerful prose. This book deserves a wide audience and belongs in every public and academic library." ( Library Journal)

"Hua-ling Hu has created a powerful, definitive biography of Minnie Vautrin, one of the greatest heroes of World War II. Meticulously researched and poignantly written, American Goddess at the Rape of Nanking describes how a courageous missionary defied the Japanese army to save thousands of Chinese lives-at the eventual cost of her own." (Iris Chang, author of The Rape of Nanking)

Incredible woman and incredible resource

I feel Minnie Vautrin’s story, like John Rabe’s, is not nearly as known nor appreciated as it should be. The same could probably be said for the Rape of Nanking in general. Which is why I was so happy to find this book. The voice acting was a little much a couple of times, but not too often. All in all, this is an incredible resource on Minnie’s life and her actions at Ginling College during the massacre.

Long over due story told

I have read the Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang, which is a much more difficult story to read than this one. I was looking for something else to share with my friends who have no idea about the Rape of Nanking but who should know the truth about what happened to thousands of women, children and men at the time by the Japanese. The story is so well told that many times I felt very moved by all that was shared here. Details I never knew about; it was both educational and inspiring to me as I have visited the memorial in Nanjing China and have distant relatives who were involved. I’m grateful for the sharing of this story and for the way it was shared. Thank you.