Perseus Academic: My China Eye by Israel Epstein

This sweeping, eighty-year memoir is the last work of veteran journalist Israel Epstein (1915–2005), one of the very few Western writers to experience the Chinese Communist Revolution firsthand. Born in Poland and raised in China, Epstein served as a war correspondent from the front lines of the Chinese War of Resistance against Japan, as well as during the Communist-Nationalist struggle. Inspired by the immense social revolution taking place, Epstein took Chinese citizenship, only to be imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. During this dark period, Epstein found his ideals challenged in ways he never imagined, yet his lifelong struggle for social equality has never wavered. This powerful memoir resonates with some of the twentieth century’s most turbulent years and is a fascinating read for anyone interested in Chinese history.

Israel Epstein (1915–2005) was born in Poland and raised in China. He served as a United Press war correspondent and as a reporter for numerous other newspapers and magazines. He is the author of Woman in World History: The Life and Times of Soong Ching Ling, From Opium War to Liberation, and The Unfinished Revolution in China.