Traveller Without a Map

by Ch'ien Hsiao, Jeffrey Kinkley (Translator)

Hsiao, Ch'ien

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful depiction of life in 20th century China, through the humbled writer Hsiao Chien. Through the tumult of the Second World War- which the author reported on from London- back to China through the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. The author was labeled a Rightist and spent over twenty years in hardship as punishment before finally being “rehabilitated” in 1979. I’ve never read an account of this period by an intellectual and it was certainly quite a terrible time if you were cast as an enemy. Very disturbing to see how people treat each other when they are encouraged to dehumanize each other. I’m so glad the author shared his story.

I wondered why he didn’t write it in English since he was also a translator of many works from English to Chinese. I appreciated that he included many photos.