Mr. China's Son: A Villager's Life

by Liyi He, Claire Anne Chik

He Liyi belongs to one of China's minorities, the Bai, and he lives in a remote area of northwestern Yunnan Province. In 1979, his wife sold her fattest pig to buy him a shortwave radio. He spent every spare moment listening to the BBC and VOA in order to improve the English he had learned at college between 1950 and 1953. For "further practice," h

Genres: China, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, History, World History

347 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing autobiography of an educated Chinese peasant whose life was severely impacted by each of the major policies instituted by Chairman Mao. I have read so many memoirs about that time period, but I think what makes this one so special is that it is not filtered through the lens of someone who has since moved to the U.S. and been influenced by Western thought. The glimpse you get into the life of a Bai minority peasant feels authentic. I especially enjoyed the richness of the language as Mr. He directly translated local colloquialisms into English. I wish I knew if the clever turns-of-phrase were typical of Bai speakers, or if he is putting his own words into the mouths of his family and other villagers.
This wasn't exactly a page-turner, and I don't think I'd recommend it as your first or only look into the time period, but well worth the read for those interested in the time period, China or anthropology.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book by a very inspiring man. Several years ago I contacted the author via email and told him how much I admired him and this book. He was just a kind, generous, pleasant man who took the time to respond in great detail to my email. This book is still among the best biographies I've ever read.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The autobiography of a Chinese villager who lived through the rise of communism in China. I got to meet him in Dali; he's an absolutely fascinating man.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fascinating story of the effects of the Chinese cultural revolution on an ordinary man. Well written.

[Karin Bodewits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author in China. The book, a personal account about surviving under Mao Zedong, is fantastic.