Chiang Kai-Shek

An Unauthorized Biography

By: Emily Hahn

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

An in-depth biography of the towering 20th-century Chinese military and political figure who led the government, first on the mainland and then in exile in Taiwan, from the acclaimed New Yorker correspondent who lived in China when he was head of state.

In 1911, 24-year-old Chiang Kai-shek was an obscure Chinese student completing his military training in Japan, the only country in the Far East with a modern army. By 1928, the soldier who no one believed would ever amount to anything had achieved world fame as the leader who broke with Russia and released the newly formed Republic of China from Communist control.

Emily Hahn's eye-opening book examines Chiang's friendship with revolutionary Sun Yat-sen and chronicles his marriage to the glamorous, American-educated Soong May-ling, who converted him to Christianity and helped him enact social reforms.

As the leader of the Nationalist Party, Chiang led China for over two decades: from 1927 through the Japanese invasion, World War II, and the civil war that ended with a Communist victory in 1949. After defeat, he retreated with his government to Taiwan, where he continued to lead as president of the exiled Republic of China until his death in 1975. Famous for forging a new nation out of the chaos of warlordism, he was an Allied leader during the Second World War only to end up scorned as an unenlightened dictator at the end of his life.

Casting a critical eye on Sino-American relations, Hahn sheds new light on this complex leader who was one of the most important global political figures of the last century.

©1955 Emily Hahn Boxer; Extracts from The Stilwell Papers, by Joseph W. Stilwell, copyright 1948, by Winifred A. Stilwell, reprinted by permission of William Sloane Associates, Inc.; This edition published 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc. (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

well done

This was very well written. The story fits in very well with other books written about this time period I have read previously. The written, while clearly not opposed to Shek also does admit the shortcomings he had. The narrator did a great job as well.

Fantastic overview of the Generallisimo's life

This book details one of the most complicated and controversial figures of the past century in a fair and balanced way, Generallisimo Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Republic of China (ROC), who was at times a very brutal and ruthless dictator who was often stuck in the traditions of the past, yet who paradoxically also served to help modernize China and defend his country from unjust aggression in WW2 and whose government ultimately made Taiwan into an economically prosperous democratic state in East Asia. Also recommend VIctorious in Defeat by Alexander V. Pantsov!

Oversimplified, Unrealistic, More Like a promo

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Very oversimplified narrative. Chiang is presented as a person of noble intents, with his nation as his main reason to exist, and that does everything to protect and bring justice and prosperity.

I have read a good bit about Chiang in other highly well source books. Also, politicians, and political circumstances are not that simple.

I should have researched the author before getting the book. She was in with the "China Lobby" to begin with.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Emily Woo Zeller?

The reading of the book is very good. Great narrator.