Half a Lifelong Romance

by Eileen Chang

Paperback

Published July 31, 2014

About the author

Eileen Chang is the English name for Chinese author 張愛玲, who was born to a prominent family in Shanghai (one of her great-grandfathers was Li Hongzhang) in 1920.

She went to a prestigious girls' school in Shanghai, where she changed her name from Chang Ying to Chang Ai-ling to match her English name, Eileen. Afterwards, she attended the University of Hong Kong, but had to go back to Shanghai when Hong Kong fell to Japan during WWII. While in Shanghai, she was briefly married to Hu Lancheng, the notorious Japanese collaborator, but later got a divorce.

After WWII ended, she returned to Hong Kong and later immigrated to the United States in 1955. She married a scriptwriter in 1956 and worked as a screenwriter herself for a Hong Kong film studio for a number of years, before her husband's death in 1967. She moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1972 and became a hermit of sorts during her last years. She passed away alone in her apartment in 1995.

Reviews

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Offers a fascinating insight into cultural norms, accepted standards and societal relationships in 1930s Shanghai. However the quiet, understated intrigue that is built in the first two thirds of book descends a little too much into melodrama, with convenient coincidences utilised to move the plot forward which does a disservice to the book's initial refined subtlety and promise.

[Blessing Ugwu-John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here lies tragic tales of love so deep and within reach, that it was taken for granted and sudden severances that will become the ultimate life regret of all the lovers involved.

It’s a good read, albeit slow and with an ending that I could easily predict but vehemently refused to accept.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thoroughly enjoying this book, the characters, and its depiction of 1930s Shanghai. But then more than halfway through, the plot took a dark turn I didn't expect.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utter and complete emotional devastation. Everyone should read it.