Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister

Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth-Century China

By: Jung Chang

Narrated by: Catherine Ho

They were the most famous sisters in China. As the country battled through a hundred years of wars, revolutions and seismic transformations, the three Soong sisters from Shanghai were at the center of power, and each of them left an indelible mark on history.

Red Sister, Ching-ling, married the 'Father of China', Sun Yat-sen, and rose to be Mao's vice-chair.
Little Sister, May-ling, became Madame Chiang Kai-shek, first lady of pre-Communist Nationalist China and a major political figure in her own right.
Big Sister, Ei-ling, became Chiang's unofficial main adviser - and made herself one of China's richest women.

All three sisters enjoyed tremendous privilege and glory, but also endured constant mortal danger. They showed great courage and experienced passionate love, as well as despair and heartbreak. They remained close emotionally, even when they embraced opposing political camps and Ching-ling dedicated herself to destroying her two sisters' worlds.

Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister is a gripping story of love, war, intrigue, bravery, glamour and betrayal, which takes us on a sweeping journey from Canton to Hawaii to New York, from exiles' quarters in Japan and Berlin to secret meeting rooms in Moscow, and from the compounds of the Communist elite in Beijing to the corridors of power in democratic Taiwan. In a group biography that is by turns intimate and epic, Jung Chang reveals the lives of three extraordinary women who helped shape twentieth-century China.

Amazing book

Just amazing. A rare but a detailed look at formative years of modern China. Look at political developments through ups and downs in the lives of 3 sisters. Yet it managed to captivate both detailed political development as well as inner lives of Soong sisters.

Fascinating reading

Really enjoyed learning more about the Soong sisters. Appreciated the background on the key men in their lives too.

Information Entertaining and Eye Opening

Great insight into China's 20th century history and its leaders. Amazing roles these family members played. Recommended read for all.

Fascinating account of one of the most influential

Wild Swans is a favorite book of money, so I could not wait to listen to this one. I learned so much, and was fascinated by the history of the influential Soong sister's. For anyone interested in the history of modern China and Taiwan, this is a must.

Good history

Overview of China & Taiwan 1850-2000 as told through biographies of the Soong sisters. One of whom married Sun Yai Sin and one who married Chiang Kai-shel.