At the Edge of Empire cover art

At the Edge of Empire

A Family's Reckoning with China

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At the Edge of Empire

By: Edward Wong
Narrated by: Edward Wong, Will Dao
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About this listen

When New York Times correspondent Edward Wong arrived in Beijing in 2008, he had a hopeful view of a coming Chinese century. Nearly sixty years earlier, his father held a similarly optimistic vision - and joined the People's Liberation Army to further Mao's revolution. But both men were forced to confront the hard realities of Communist Party rule.

Drawing on family interviews and his reporting, Edward Wong unveils the continuous inner history of China under Xi Jinping and Mao. But the parallel journeys of father and son also illustrate startling shifts over the decades.

With beautiful writing, sweeping narrative, and news-breaking insight into contemporary China, At the Edge of Empire is required study for anyone looking to understand global politics in the 21st century. Edward Wong takes the listener straight into the heart of the Hong Kong protests, the upheavals in Xinjiang and the halls of power in Beijing and Washington.

©2024 Edward Wong (P)2024 Profile Books Ltd 20th Century 21st Century Asia China Modern Politics & Government Imperialism Socialism War Imperial Japan

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This is an excellent book, revealing so much of the story of Chinese history during the Mao period. Interweaving the history with the personal story of his family and of his own life in Hong Kong and China made it easy to read.

It is difficult to imagine the hardship his father suffered whilst trying to support Mao in the fight to develop communism in China. Such fervour is to be admired but I wonder if this could happen today, except under a totalitarian regime. The book gives great insight into the isolation of communities and the sufferings they were willing to endure for little reward.

This is probably not a light holiday read, but it is written by a journalist who knows how to hold the reader's attention. I really enjoyed the book and have recommended it to several friends.

An enjoyable personal history of China

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the events covered in Edward Wong's book were mostly unknown to me so I learnt a lot. But I found all the characters cold. the only relations discussed were with existing family. There was no impetuous moments and very rare example of pleasurable meals and even then, describe coldly and without detail..no girlfriends or boyfriends. little consideration of people's motives other than Dad who suddenly got dissolusioned with communism after 10 dreadful years. no parting no drinking no intimate mates. this is a story of modern china and if read as such it's good

fascinating but cold

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