Wings of the Wind

by Ronald Hardy

Lewis McKenna--medical missionary and spy for the exiled Chiang Kai-shek--and his family travel through postrevolutionary China to reach Taiwan, closely pursued by John Chen, state security agent and world-class chess player

480 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

Reviews

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under the post-war Maoist regime, medical priest Lewis Mackenna watches the grip of communism tighten on the human spirit. He faces a division of loyalty; between faith and family.

He is duelling too with a more immediate enemy, John Chen - chessmaster extraordinary and a man of power. Pursued by Chen, Mackenna flees with his family to the sea, seeking the safety and sanctuary of Taiwan.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting look at a time and culture I know little about. The story, a flight from the Chinese State, is long and slow, with little tension. Despite a rich background and backdrop, I failed to care about the characters.