Red Sorrow

A Memoir

By: Nanchu

Narrated by: Corrie James

At the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution, 13-year-old Nanchu watched Red Guards burst into her home and arrest her parents, whom they tortured and jailed. She was left to fend for herself and her younger brother on the streets of Shanghai, enduring poverty and near-starvation. As she grew older she herself became a Red Guard and was sent down to the largest work camp in China. There she faced primitive conditions, predatory officials, a viper's nest of party jealousies, and near-fatal injury before she finally won admittance to Madame Mao's university in Shanghai. Her testimony is essential for anyone interested in China or human rights.

©2012 Nanchu (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

An in-depth view of the Cultural Revolution

I’ve read several books about China during the Cultural Revolution but this one written by Nanchu is the most personal and gripping account I’ve read.

I am the same age as the author and I couldn’t help but relate to her. As she went through the harsh realities of the Cultural Revolution I’d reflect on how fortunate I was to not be at the mercy of an experiment gone wholly wrong. While Andy Warhol was printing pop images of Mao Tse Tong millions were suffering under his brutal regime.

I visited China in the 90’s on an Earth Watch trip, studying the Buddhist monks and the Pali language. The Chinese people were the most gracious and friendly people I’d ever met. They were all very eager to speak with me, to practice their English and to ask about America while I asked about China.

If you had any interest in other cultures, recent history, or China I highly recommend this book. It’s very informative well written and the narration was flawless.