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A Mortal Flower
A Mortal Flower is an autobiography by Han Suyin. It covers the years 1928 to 1938: her growing up in China and her journey to Belgium and her mother's family. Also her marriage to a rising officer in the Kuomintang and the retreat to Chungking in the face of the Japanese invasion of China.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
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About the author
Han Suyin
85 books107 followersHan Suyin (Pinyin: Hán Sùyīn) is the pen name of Elizabeth Comber, born Rosalie Elisabeth Kuanghu Chow (Pinyin: Zhōu Guānghú). She was a Chinese-born Eurasian author of several books on modern China, novels set in East Asia, and autobiographical works, as well as a physician. She wrote in English and French. She died in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 5, 2019
Autobiography of an extraordinary woman Doctor and Writer, whose mother was Belgian and father was Chinese. Han Suyin was a teenager in the early 1930's in China, and this book covers the years 1928 to 1938, and was published in 1965.
Having mixed feelings about this book--there are breathtaking descriptions of 1930's Peking, some beautiful, some horrific, all well-worth reading. Then there is a lot of political stuff, economic stuff, and the author's pontificating on how great Communism is and how terrible the Americans and Europeans were who exploited (or enjoyed depending on your viewpoint) the Chinese resources in the 1900's. She seems to heartily approve of Mao and the Cultural Revolution.
Let me quickly say that it is refreshing and interesting to hear an oppositve perspective of these events than the one I have heard before, and she is a credible witness with an incisive intelligence.
However, I am struggling to get through this. I find some of it tedious and some of it illuminating.
Update: 4.5 stars. WELL WORTH THE READ. Some of it reads like a novel; some of it reads like a history text.
I am planning to read another of her books in a year or two and will read all of them if they are as good as this one.
What turned me around was that the author, in recounting her years from about age 13 to age 22, starts off immature and a little bit irritating, but then matures to the point where she is less critical of others with different life experiences and viewpoints, less superior sounding.
She is able to say, "Another person would not have made this decision; but I was not another person, I was myself." She is/was an amazing woman and her story is likewise extemely interesting.
I learned a lot from this book--about why there were people who wanted the Communists to win in China, why Communism isn't bad or good (the same way that Democracy isn't bad or good--it is what you do with it that matters), and why "we are going to invade another country and kill people because Communism" is just a plain bloody stupid reason to justify War.
Having mixed feelings about this book--there are breathtaking descriptions of 1930's Peking, some beautiful, some horrific, all well-worth reading. Then there is a lot of political stuff, economic stuff, and the author's pontificating on how great Communism is and how terrible the Americans and Europeans were who exploited (or enjoyed depending on your viewpoint) the Chinese resources in the 1900's. She seems to heartily approve of Mao and the Cultural Revolution.
Let me quickly say that it is refreshing and interesting to hear an oppositve perspective of these events than the one I have heard before, and she is a credible witness with an incisive intelligence.
However, I am struggling to get through this. I find some of it tedious and some of it illuminating.
Update: 4.5 stars. WELL WORTH THE READ. Some of it reads like a novel; some of it reads like a history text.
I am planning to read another of her books in a year or two and will read all of them if they are as good as this one.
What turned me around was that the author, in recounting her years from about age 13 to age 22, starts off immature and a little bit irritating, but then matures to the point where she is less critical of others with different life experiences and viewpoints, less superior sounding.
She is able to say, "Another person would not have made this decision; but I was not another person, I was myself." She is/was an amazing woman and her story is likewise extemely interesting.
I learned a lot from this book--about why there were people who wanted the Communists to win in China, why Communism isn't bad or good (the same way that Democracy isn't bad or good--it is what you do with it that matters), and why "we are going to invade another country and kill people because Communism" is just a plain bloody stupid reason to justify War.
May 21, 2013
to be read slowly, enjoyed like a rich glass of wine. the depth and complexity of the authors Eurasian history and of China as she knew her. glad I read this second part of the trilogy.
May 22, 2013
This is the second volume of Han Suyin's fascinating autobiography/history, which in this case brings alive again the tumultuous China of 1928 to 1938 -- and the grim slide toward fascism in western Europe in the latter years of that period.
Young Rosalie Chou, as she was then known, lived through harrowing challenges and severe self-doubts during these years -- her fraught relationship with her mother worsening even further, her social isolation as a Eurasian in an ever more racialistic world deepening, and her first love affairs leaving her torn rather than strengthened. Yet there is a bravery to her drive to move on, to push herself into new experiences and to achieve a transcendent sense of social purpose. Han Suyin traces this past with blunt honesty and insight into the context of the times, making this a remarkable book, more moving and powerful than volume one of the autobiography.
This is also a significant historical analysis, from a participant who was there as fundamental conflict escalated in China, with Chiang Kai Shek on the rise, even as Mao Tse-Tung was leading the Long March that would ultimately bring revolution. Han Suyin's insights into the perspectives she saw in pre-war Europe, as the relative of Belgium's Minister of Defence, are also valuable.
This is a book that ends with young Rosalie, now a university graduate, setting off to return to China -- for what will be the even more daunting challenges recounted in volume three.
Young Rosalie Chou, as she was then known, lived through harrowing challenges and severe self-doubts during these years -- her fraught relationship with her mother worsening even further, her social isolation as a Eurasian in an ever more racialistic world deepening, and her first love affairs leaving her torn rather than strengthened. Yet there is a bravery to her drive to move on, to push herself into new experiences and to achieve a transcendent sense of social purpose. Han Suyin traces this past with blunt honesty and insight into the context of the times, making this a remarkable book, more moving and powerful than volume one of the autobiography.
This is also a significant historical analysis, from a participant who was there as fundamental conflict escalated in China, with Chiang Kai Shek on the rise, even as Mao Tse-Tung was leading the Long March that would ultimately bring revolution. Han Suyin's insights into the perspectives she saw in pre-war Europe, as the relative of Belgium's Minister of Defence, are also valuable.
This is a book that ends with young Rosalie, now a university graduate, setting off to return to China -- for what will be the even more daunting challenges recounted in volume three.
May 5, 2022
Pros:
- Perspective of Chinese history that isn't American or British
- Talks about some of the difficulties of growing up mixed race and having multiple identities
- Woman wanting to become a doctor and fighting for that despite sexism and racism
Cons:
- She comes off as extremely arrogant. There's being sure of yourself and confident, and then there's thinking you're above everyone else. She at least comes off as the latter
- She is definitely speaking from a place of privilege based on class and economically. I don't say this to minimize her struggles, but it's worth keeping in mind while reading that she has a very different perspective than your average Chinese citizen at this time. Even though she has to work for her money, it's clear she grew up supported and well-connected plus the benefits (and yes I know some drawbacks) of being Eurasian
- I had a hard time following the history sections. They're not really written in chronological order which made it EXTREMELY difficult for me to follow what was going on. I think on one page I counted at least five different years, spanning probably 20 years, none of which were in order. Made it so confusing to figure out what was going on. Then she'd go back to her own story and basically no time had passed compared to the history section, so I was left confused about where she was in her life and how old she was
- She seems a bit sociopathic with how she just seemed to shut of emotions and not care about others. It sounded like this came from trauma growing up, but was really weird to read
- Perspective of Chinese history that isn't American or British
- Talks about some of the difficulties of growing up mixed race and having multiple identities
- Woman wanting to become a doctor and fighting for that despite sexism and racism
Cons:
- She comes off as extremely arrogant. There's being sure of yourself and confident, and then there's thinking you're above everyone else. She at least comes off as the latter
- She is definitely speaking from a place of privilege based on class and economically. I don't say this to minimize her struggles, but it's worth keeping in mind while reading that she has a very different perspective than your average Chinese citizen at this time. Even though she has to work for her money, it's clear she grew up supported and well-connected plus the benefits (and yes I know some drawbacks) of being Eurasian
- I had a hard time following the history sections. They're not really written in chronological order which made it EXTREMELY difficult for me to follow what was going on. I think on one page I counted at least five different years, spanning probably 20 years, none of which were in order. Made it so confusing to figure out what was going on. Then she'd go back to her own story and basically no time had passed compared to the history section, so I was left confused about where she was in her life and how old she was
- She seems a bit sociopathic with how she just seemed to shut of emotions and not care about others. It sounded like this came from trauma growing up, but was really weird to read
May 24, 2023
Read years ago - finding copies today is difficult. Serious history both familial and cultural/political.
June 3, 2021
Classified as an autobiography, this turns out to be much more a history of China and its political and cultural turmoil in the first half of the twentieth century. Valuable more for these elements than for its fairly scant biographical detail, A Mortal Flower is not an easy read. Yet its complex detail offers a invaluable foundation for understanding some of today's most daunting political issues.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews