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Madame Chiang Kai-shek: China's Eternal First Lady

Laura Tyson Li

3.61 · Rating details · 97 ratings · 20 reviews

Madame Chiang Kai-shek — a Booklist Editors' Choice for 2006 — is the first biography of one of the most controversial and fascinating women of the twentieth century. Raised in a powerful Chinese family, the beautiful, brilliant, and captivating Soong Mayling married Nationalist leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and went on to become his chief adviser, interpreter, and ...more

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Hardcover, 576 pages

Published August 31st 2006 by Atlantic Monthly Press

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Oct 14, 2008 Alice rated it really liked it

What a great picture of the history of Communist China and Taiwan! Like many books that give you only one perspective, this biography of Mayling prompted as many questions as it answered. I especially liked the epilogue where Laura Tyson Li provides her own suppositions and conclusions based on the enormous amount of research and experience that went into writing this book.

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Jul 28, 2012 Mark Mortensen rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, politics, asia

Mayling Soon, born in Shanghai 1898, lived throughout the entire 20th Century to be 105 years old and left her mark upon the world dying in 2003. As the wife of General and President Chiang Kai-Shek the darling of the East was known throughout the world as Madame Chiang Kai-Shek the First Lady of the Republic of China. Many compared her to Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale. Did she marry for love, fame, power, patriotism and the interest of China, to spread Christianity or to seek personal we Mayling Soon, born in Shanghai 1898, lived throughout the entire 20th Century to be 105 years old and left her mark upon the world dying in 2003. As the wife of General and President Chiang Kai-Shek the darling of the East was known throughout the world as Madame Chiang Kai-Shek the First Lady of the Republic of China. Many compared her to Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale. Did she marry for love, fame, power, patriotism and the interest of China, to spread Christianity or to seek personal wealth? It’s all a tangled web.

Her father, who studied theology at Vanderbilt University, was a Christian Methodist Missionary in China. Like her father Mayling went to America for education and in the process she also solidified her Christianity. After spending time in New Jersey she attended summer classes along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire before heading off to Wellesley College in Massachusetts where she became a proud alumnus. In future years she would put her command of the English language to great use in world affairs. Her brothers and sisters as members of the Soon dynasty also ventured out and became influential in Chinese politics.

In 1937 Time Magazine named President and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek “Man and Wife of the Year”. As WWII unfolded they both worked closely with American officer Claire Lee Chennault the head of the “Flying Tigers” aviation force in China fighting the Japanese. In a 1942 Life Magazine article Clair Boothe Luce described Madame Chiang as the “greatest living woman” in the world.

General Chiang Kai-Shek commanded the Nationalist government fighting the Communist Chinese for control of Mainland China. After WWII the Generalissimo and his following were defeated in and forced to retreat to Formosa known today as Taiwan. One sister of Madame Chiang ended up on the opposite side politically promoting the agenda of mainland China and upon her death her body lay in state in the Great Hall for three days. A few of Madame Chiang’s views contrasted with mine, however such is history. I did enjoy her remark as to why some choose communism as way of life, stating: “There is a sucker born every minute”.

American dollars were spent to support the democratic cause, however much of the money was unaccounted for and appeared to have been confiscated by Madame Chiang and other family members. Madame Chiang was respected by many but on the other end of the spectrum she was viewed as corrupt and living a decadent lifestyle. The paradox was evident upon her death as Taiwanese flags were flown at half staff yet the Taipei Times ran an editorial “So long and good riddance”.

I recommend this book not only to historians seeking information on China and Taiwan, but also to politicians and business men and women who deal professionally with the two countries today.
...more

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Apr 04, 2014 John rated it it was ok

Mayling Soong deserved much better. The book was readable but the author for example spends endless pages on dermatology, and every skin eruption or rash she seems to have had is mentioned, while things like the Chinese intervention in Korea, Nationalist Chinese contribution of troops to the defense of S Vietnam are ignored. The author also seems a bit "pink" coloring the supporters of the Nationalists as corrupt, fascists and supporters of the Communist "agrarian reformers" who have been reveal ...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Jrs rated it liked it · review of another edition

Unfortunately, this was a cursory overview of the Kuomintang and the Chinese Revolution along with a glimpse into the life of a 105 year old woman and her family. Though it was a somewhat entertaining the book was tedious, and the recounting of such a luminous life should not have been told through the lens of her husband and China but through an objective author looking to unlock the layers of her complicated existence.

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Jun 18, 2008 Dove Bunnie rated it it was ok

I don't feel as though I got very much insight into Madame's life. The description of the world events during her period is extremely slanted (and sometimes downright vague), something that surprises me coming from an author with a background in journalism. I much prefer the style of the biography I own on the Generalissimo. ...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Charlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This biography was really well-written, very thorough, and an informative history of this time in China/Taiwan. But I had difficulty getting through the book because I found Madame Chiang Kai-shek to be so egotistical, domineering, and cluelessly classist. But I know this was my issue as I so wanted to like her, as one of the first internationally recognized women leaders.

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Sep 28, 2008 Alie rated it liked it

Shelves: biography

Reading this book gave me a background story of the early stage of ROC. It seemed that Madam Chiang had determination in making many polices. But the question is how big her role? I reckon if u wanna know bout its relation with the US u could read "Plain Speaking" written by Merle Miller. ...more

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Jul 25, 2013 Louise rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biography, china

Laura Tyson Li has assembled a spectacular bio. It's page turner with the authority and detail of an encyclopedia. LTL has managed to keep her opinions out of the text. It isn't until the last chapter when through an informed discussion on the Madame's possible motivations that LTL becomes subjective.

While almost every aspect of this life is intriguing, certain people and episodes stand out. I had forgotten Zhang Xueliang until he emerged in Hawaii with his wife after a 50 year house arrest. App Laura Tyson Li has assembled a spectacular bio. It's page turner with the authority and detail of an encyclopedia. LTL has managed to keep her opinions out of the text. It isn't until the last chapter when through an informed discussion on the Madame's possible motivations that LTL becomes subjective.

While almost every aspect of this life is intriguing, certain people and episodes stand out. I had forgotten Zhang Xueliang until he emerged in Hawaii with his wife after a 50 year house arrest. Apparently he was able to keep his pre-war fortune, or had been cared for financially; he is deemed a friend of the Madame. (Another 5 year house arrest of a physician who botches an operation of the General suggests house arrest is a common punishment for "friends" and other professionals.) Madame's war time US appeal for funds, with its cross country caravan of staff whom MCKS treats "as coolies" is certainly an episode worth a small volume. (The $800,000 she raises goes to her personal account.) While the Wendel Wilkie relationship (true or false) is intriguing, I fixed on the William H. Donald relationship, which may have been a professional friendship and refuge from her husband's authoritarianism, but her end of life treatment of him suggests something else.

There are a host of issues worthy of their own books. Perhaps these books exist. One issue is the "arrival" of 2 million mainlanders to the island of Formosa, whose 7 million citizens seemed to have some degree of prosperity under the Japanese. While the Chiangs arrive with resources, others huddle in makeshift places and cry at night. "Invasion" appears to be a better word for this arrival (particularly after 2/28), but it is certainly not portrayed as such (or allowed to be portrayed as such) by the Nationalists who felt entitled to rule and had the resources to make it so. Madame continues to object to the appointment of Taiwanese to government posts.

Another issue deserving its own book is Madame's money. Whether or not the NYC exterminators actually saw it, a closet of gold bars, is not far fetched. For maybe 30 years, Madame's "charity" received a % of all imports to Taiwan. There were several "vacation" homes in Taiwan, one built at a cost of $2 million. Then, the resources brought from the mainland to Taiwan. This money provided Madame with luxury and a large staff until her death. How large was it? How was it acquired (any from the US war assistance?) and where did it go?

MCKS can be noted for her longevity alone. There must be something Guinness-worthy about her survival despite many years in a war zone, continued medical treatments, operations including several for breast cancer, nervous afflictions, a late in life automobile accident, lifelong cigarette smoking (and potential drug abuse) and at least one assassination attempt. Any one of these factors would tend to predict an early demise, not a life of 103 years.

If you read this book, it's riveting, so be prepared to give it time. Also, the level of detail might make continuity difficult if you have to make gaps in your reading time. ...more

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Sep 22, 2015 Cathie rated it really liked it

I had been curious about Madame Chiang (Soong Mayling) for a long time. I once heard that she was a Christian and an anti-Communist. I recently found several biographies had been written about her and chose this one. Admittedly, I know very little of Chinese history, so I don't really know if this biography has a particular slant. It seemed to be balanced and well-researched in its coverage. It was definitely not an easy read and took me over four weeks to read just under 500 pages. Mayling's fa I had been curious about Madame Chiang (Soong Mayling) for a long time. I once heard that she was a Christian and an anti-Communist. I recently found several biographies had been written about her and chose this one. Admittedly, I know very little of Chinese history, so I don't really know if this biography has a particular slant. It seemed to be balanced and well-researched in its coverage. It was definitely not an easy read and took me over four weeks to read just under 500 pages. Mayling's father was converted by Methodist missionaries in America and he returned to China after being ordained and appointed a missionary to China. Mayling was born about the year 1898, with two brothers and two sisters older and two brothers younger that she. Her older sister, Eling, was educated in America and when it was time for the middle sister, Ching Ling, to follow in 1907, Mayling went too. She was too young, but by 1908 she began attending classes at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, GA. She finished her Freshman year there, but once again became a Freshman at Wellesley College when she moved north to be near her brother. She was 15.

Mayling was very intentional in her life. She and Chiang Kai-shek lived united in purpose - to keep a united China free from Communism. But they were complicated and confusing. From the book: "When the Chinese people are considering the future of their country, they should know what to choose - democracy, not authoritarianism," she (Mayling) declared, blithely oblivious to the fact that the Chiang regime, first on the mainland and then on Taiwan had been anything but democratic.

At the end of 1942, Mayling returned to America for help with her life-long health issues, but also to gain the sympathy of America to the plight of China. She made many speeches - she was the first Asian and first private citizen to ever address Congress and only the second woman. But my favorite was when she returned to Wellesley. From the book: She overestimated the vocabularies of even Wellesley students when she warned: "Indehiscence and mawkish maunder will not equip us for our battle through life....Yet within these very portals is the cenote of learning."

For many years, God was still impersonal to Mayling even though she considered herself a Christian. From the book: But one day she underwent what she termed an "old-fashioned conversion." While reading the biblical story of the crucifixion, which she had pondered many times before, she claimed to have suddenly realized for the first time that Christ's suffering was for her. "I cried and cried, overcome with my own unworthiness," she wrote. It was a peculiar sensation, at once great grief and great release. I can count the times I have wept since I have grown up...for as children we were taught not to show emotion, and to abhor sentimentality." From then on she claimed to be "not only intellectually convinced but personally attached" to God.

It was interesting to see how many factors were a part of who Madame Chiang Kai-Shek was. Her family, her health, her education in America, and the whole culture of China. I was surprised to realize that she died in 2003 at the age of 105. ...more

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Jun 04, 2009 AC rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-21st-century, china

I've given up... cried uncle! This book could have been half the length and nothing would have been lost -- which means that half the time I spent reading it was spent wondering: 'why am I doing this'. Those with more patience may have better luck.

(this book is not well written -- surprising given that the author is a successful journalist -- you can sometimes see the author's workshop peering through the prose -- and it is not a well-stocked shop. The book also has a certain gossipy tone to it, I've given up... cried uncle! This book could have been half the length and nothing would have been lost -- which means that half the time I spent reading it was spent wondering: 'why am I doing this'. Those with more patience may have better luck.

(this book is not well written -- surprising given that the author is a successful journalist -- you can sometimes see the author's workshop peering through the prose -- and it is not a well-stocked shop. The book also has a certain gossipy tone to it, and the author's judgment certainly is not mature. I am a bit surprised, given the great blurbs on the book cover.... I'm currently reading the section on the 1930s and 40s. For a much richer treatment of this period in Chinese history, see this book, which is really superb: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...)

I am not generally a great fan of biographies... I feel that the need to approach broad historical topics from the vantage point of the individual under consideration distorts the writing -- even down to the level of the paragraph -- as writers of biography often tend to approach their topics ass-backwards, using some anecdote as a launching pad for a macro-oriented observation, whereas they should proceed from a general consideration of the topic, and then introduce the anecdote in confirmation.

That aside, this book is not too bad -- it is informative, certainly -- and reads very well.

But the author downplays some of the harsher aspects of her subject. Basically, it's a bit hard to be overly sympathetic to an author who is fundamentally sympathetic to heroines (and heroes) who are not themselves very sympathetic: http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warst...

According to Tyson Li, the Chiang - like their early school for orphaned military children - "were a mild version of the Hitler Jugend and Mussolini's Fascist Youth, with an ethos comprising a puzzling mixture of Chinese, American, Christian [i.e., of the YMCA-New Life Movement variety -- AC:], and fascist thinking - in short, very much a product of Mayling's own curious blend of experience" (89)...

... and that seems to sit fine with Tyson Li.

At any rate, I will keep reading it... ...more

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Oct 05, 2010 Barb Middleton rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, adult

I prefer one temperature for cooking: High.

The gas stove gives a satisfying pop before spitting out a nasty flame that engulfs the pan in an inferno of heat.

In the interesting biography, Madame Chiang Kai-shek: China’s Eternal First Lady, by Laura Tyson Li, Madame Chiang Kai-shek lived her life like my stove, cranked up to full power and scorching a path through history. She was vain, spoiled, brilliant and tragic. Her actions showed that she would make moral compromises, underhanded deals, an ...more

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Nov 24, 2016 Michelle Wood rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-reads

This is one of the best non-fiction books I've read in some time. I knew little about the madame. I found this book highly informative, fascinating and thought provoking. The epilogue was excellent! One of the best I've ever read. It seems the author put a lot into this book. This allows me to look @ China through a different lens.

I've read Mao's biography and was highly appalled at the horrible acts he performed. But this is different any many ways. The madame was more of a celebrity it galls ...more

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Sep 02, 2010 Kersti added it

Shelves: fascinating-people, history-other

I read this book after traveling in China for a month and seeing some of the "landmark" places where the Revolution started. It's a fascinating book, an incredible story, but a very tough read. I stuck with it since I had just come back from China, otherwise I think I would have given up. I certainly skimmed through much of it. I completely agree with the reviewer who said the book could have been half as long. With a good "hard edit", this would be a fabulous read.

...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Virginia Brace rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-non-fiction

Although it took me a long time to finish this biography, it was worth it. This unusual woman born in China and educated in the United State from approximately age 10 to age 20 was in the thick of all things political for about 60 years. She lived to be 105 years old and saw the world change significantly while believing that she had not also changed. I was interested to learn her part in the McCarthy Era and other developments in United States history.

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Jan 22, 2012 Shakesbear8 rated it really liked it

Mademe Chiang had played rather influential role in modern Chinese history, both directly and indirectly. What amazed me is that I saw some similarity between Taiwan under dictatorship of Chiang and mainland now. OF course People in China now have much more freedom than those back in 60s,70s in Taiwan, but it seems still a long way to go before mainlanders fully embrace democracy.

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Nov 02, 2018 Darlene Spalding rated it it was ok

This was a gift from a friend so felt obligated to finish it, although it took me awhile to get through it. It did give me information and insight into China and their history, which I appreciated, but it was too long and so much devoted to her physical afflictions. It makes me want to know more about China and Taiwan, but not in this format.

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Oct 11, 2013 Karmen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013, bookmooch, thrift-store, nonfiction-biography

Wonderful review on the history of post-monarchy China and Taiwan via a vis Myling Chiang Kai-Shek. A tale of many missed opportunities as Chiang and she could have transformed China into a power 70 years ago.

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Jun 15, 2011 Craig Earnshaw rated it really liked it

Towering historical figure, a must read to understand China's development during the 20th century. ...more

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May 22, 2021 Nemo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It took me about ten days to finish it, once after I came back to HK, and reading it during breaktime of children caring. A pretty thorough from birth to death review of Mayling, and I did learn sth new about her, such as :1) she like to use very rarely used English words during her lectures and letters in the US, and even congressmen felt hard to follow what she meant. 2)she has been tortured by skin ills for several decades, 3) she loves most her nephew Jeannette Kung, 4)she doesn't get along ...more

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Jul 25, 2021 Marissa D rated it liked it

Woof I am not a biography person. Mayling Soong/Chiang lived a very interesting life and this was a very compelling story, but I am just not a biography person. If you are, I recommend this!

I read this to complete prompt 18 of the Book Riot 2021 Read Harder challenge-read a book by or about a non-Western World leader.

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