Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth-Century China - Jung Chang (Book)

Title: Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth-Century China

Author: Jung Chang

Date Published: October 29, 2019

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Category: Biography / History / Asian Studies

In Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister, acclaimed historian Jung Chang delves into the intertwined lives of the Soong sisters—Ei-Ling, Ching-Ling, and May-Ling—who played pivotal roles in shaping twentieth-century China. Born into a prominent Shanghai family in the 1890s, each sister embarked on a distinct path that influenced the nation’s political and social landscape. Ei-Ling, the eldest, married H.H. Kung, a wealthy banker who became China’s finance minister, positioning herself among the country’s elite and amassing significant wealth. Ching-Ling, the middle sister, wed Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader and first president of the Republic of China, later aligning herself with Communist ideals and serving as Mao Zedong’s vice-chair. May-Ling, the youngest, became the First Lady by marrying Chiang Kai-shek, the Nationalist leader, and emerged as an influential figure on the international stage, even gracing the cover of TIME magazine multiple times.

Chang’s narrative offers an intimate exploration of the sisters’ personal ambitions, political maneuvers, and the complex dynamics that both united and divided them. She paints a vivid picture of their journey from their formative years in Shanghai to their education in the United States, and their subsequent immersion in China’s tumultuous political arena. The book traverses significant historical events, from the fall of the Qing Dynasty to the rise of Communism, illustrating how the Soong sisters’ lives were intricately woven into the fabric of China’s modernization efforts.

Through meticulous research and engaging prose, Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister sheds light on the complexities of loyalty, power, and sisterhood against the backdrop of a nation in upheaval. Chang’s portrayal challenges simplistic caricatures, revealing the sisters as multifaceted individuals whose decisions left an indelible mark on Chinese history. This compelling biography not only chronicles their remarkable contributions but also offers readers a nuanced understanding of the era’s political and cultural transformations.