3 Review(s)

The publication of Wild Swans in 1991 was a worldwide phenomenon. Not only did it become the best-selling non fiction book in British publishing history, with sales of well over ten million, it was received with unanimious critical acclaim, and was named the winner of the 1992 NCR Book Award and the 1993 British Book of the Year Award. The publication of Wild Swans in 1991 was a worldwide phenomenon. Not only did it become the best-selling non-fiction book in British publishing history, with sales of well over two million, yet it was received with unanimous critical acclaim. Few books have ever had such an impact on their readers. Through the story of three generations of women - grandmother, mother and daughter - 'Wild Swans' tells nothing less than the whole tumultuous history of China's tragic twentieth century, from sword-bearing warlords to Chairman Mao, from the Manchu Empire to Cultural Revolution. At times terrifying, at times astonishing, always deeply moving, Wild Swans is a book in a million, a true story with all the passion and grandeur of a great novel. For this new edition, Jung Chang has written a new introduction, bringing her own story up to date, and describing the affect Wild Swans' success has had on her life.