Remembering Shanghai: A Memoir of Socialites, Scholars and Scoundrels Free Audiobook Download by Claire Chao,Isabel Sun Chao
In her memoir of her time in Shanghai, Asia scholar Claire Chao wrote that the word "socialite" was never a term she would have chosen for herself. Neither did she think of herself as a person who might be considered as light-hearted or carefree. But she found herself living in a captivating world of socialites and foreigners that provided plenty of comedy along with moments of deep reflection.
Remembering Shanghai is an account of the author's first time in China. It tells about her time there during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as others' experiences.
During the 1920s, Shanghai was a city of great opportunity. A French businessman who visited Shanghai in 1925 wrote that it was "a city of millionaires." According to his report, the seemingly chaotic city was home to a diverse array of people, including socialites and scholars. There were also those who lacked these labels but were no less brave or remarkable: crooks, grifters, and rogues who would scam their way into riches by any means necessary. It is this type of personality that Isabel Sun Chao chronicles in her memoir Remembering Shanghai: A Memoir of Socialites, Scholars and Scoundrels. The author tells about her life growing up in Shanghai during the late 19th and early 20th centuries via memory checkpoints with
Shanghai was a period in human history of romance and deceit, hope and despair. It is an exciting time to be alive at because of all the changes occurring at such a rapid pace. This memoir by Claire Chao talks about her life as an upper-class Shanghai socialite during China's Cultural Revolution. This book will take you on an adventure through a world of glamour and beauty that is part of Shanghai memories.
"Remembering Shanghai" is a memoir written by Rachel, who was born in China and grew up in the United States, but it is also the story of her parents, Isabel and Claire. The book reads like a long-form blog that is rich with intimate memories. Rachel has suffered from survivor's guilt after seeing how well her parents were treated in the U.S., while they struggled to adjust to life abroad.
What does it mean to be a socialite in Shanghai? In her memoir, author and journalist Chao explores what it meant to be a wealthy woman in Shanghai during the early twentieth century. Her memories take us into the opulent lifestyle of China's first generation of "modern" women, who became empowered with newfound literacy and shifted their social roles from daughters to wives and mothers. Ranging from interviews with Chinese scholars, to scene-setting snapshots of Shanghai's evolving skyline, Chao's memoir is a vivid portrait for anyone interested in China's development over a significant period of time.
Published Date | 2020-12-21 |
Duration | 7 hours 59 minutes |
Author | Claire Chao, Isabel Sun Chao |
Narrated | Isabel Sun Chao, Claire Chao, Rachel Yong |
Reviews | |
Abridged | No |
Is It Free? | 30-days Free |
Category | Non-Fiction |
Parent Category | Art & Music, History & Culture |