And China Has Hands

by H.T. Tsiang

H. T. Tsiang's And China Has Hands is a poignant and groundbreaking novel that explores the themes of race, class, and identity through the eyes of Wong Wan-Lee, a Chinese immigrant navigating life in Depression-era America. Written with sharp wit and unflinching honesty, this novel captures the struggles of marginalized communities striving for dignity and purpose in an unforgiving world.
At the heart of the story is Wong's journey as he searches for a sense of belonging and meaning while enduring exploitation, discrimination, and cultural alienation. Through his relationships, encounters with labor struggles, and reflections on his homeland, Wong becomes a lens through which Tsiang examines broader societal inequalities and the universal longing for justice and equality.
Tsiang's prose is both lyrical and biting, blending satire and earnest critique to create a vivid portrayal of immigrant life during one of America's most turbulent eras. His narrative challenges stereotypes and questions the barriers erected by prejudice, while celebrating the resilience and humanity of those forced to fight against systemic oppression.
And China Has Hands is a powerful testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and the complexities of the immigrant experience. Often overlooked in its time, this novel remains a vital piece of literature, offering timeless insights into the struggles and triumphs of those who bridge cultures and defy expectations.
For readers interested in social justice, immigrant narratives, and the history of Chinese-American literature, And China Has Hands is a deeply moving and thought-provoking work that resonates as strongly today as it did upon its original publication.

Genres: Fiction, Asian American, School, Literature

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Poet, playwright, and novelist. Hsi Tseng Tsiang (H. T. Tsiang) was born in China in 1899 and came to America as a child. He was involved with the Greenwich Village literary scene in the 1920s and 1930s, and self-published a number of books which he would hawk at downtown political meetings. Tsiang also appeared as an actor in Hollywood, most notably in the film Tokyo Rose. He died in 1971 in Los Angeles, CA.

Reviews

[Jonathan]

Definitely weird, although not as weird as Union Square (which, again, is incredible). Does hit a lot of the same beats as Union, though: e.g cafeterias as sites of proletarian consciousness-raising and endings with big strikes/demonstrations. The anti-capitalism here is a little bit more subdued (but still very obvious), and instead Tsiang builds a more transnational awarenesses. There's an ongoing refrain of people doing work, but explicitly thinking of something else, either another person or how to pay the bills. I was gonna give this 4 stars, but at 170 short pages, I gave it the 5th for never turning into a slog.

[amy]

ahhh this book was really good and very interesting!! i was surprised by how funny it actually is which makes the tonal switch from a rom com at the beginning to a book about class warfare at the end really interesting. the communist themes throughout the book was done in a way i had never read before, specifically within the idea of inter racial class solidarity. the way the book handles race is especially interesting specifically in the context of racial solidarity btwn black and asian americans. reading the ending scene in the context of foucaults theory of race would also be interesting especially thinking about how the lines btwn different racial groups get blurred at the end.

[Anneke]

Honestly, I didn’t enjoy reading this. The self insert is pretty funny and there are some pretty engaging scenes and ways that he’s playing around with language to allude to his feelings abt labor. Reminds me of Interior Chinatown, which I also don’t think I’d like as much if I reread it now.

[Lee]

A thoughtful and experimental depiction of the transformative process of immigration, the socioeconomic politics of depression-era NYC Chinatown, and the convergence of race and gender for non-white Americans. A good first read of the semester

[D.J. Desmond]

Great read, highly recommended for anyone interested in modernism

[Amrita]

very grateful to kaya press for putting this and other books by the remarkably interesting chinese-american author and revolutionary activist h.t. tsiang back into print and introducing many readers to him in the process. so much about this short novel is extraordinary, such as the way irreverence and sarcasm seamlessly flows into earnest emotion and then back again, the cheerful and creative breakages of the fourth wall, the clarity and prescient commentary that tsiang consistently provides about the time period he was living in. of course, it's very important as a historical artifact but i think it would be a mistake to look at this story in only one way because there is far more to examine beyond the fact of its existence. there's much to like about this novel and much that could be a rewarding subject for critique but ultimately, i found that tsiang's style, politics, and storytelling combine to draw you firmly into his universe and leave you at last with a great deal to think about.

[Jupiter]

Tsiang’s self insert was interesting.

[Molly Lane]

honestly, hell yeah

ANd Pearl Chang did not come

#modernism

[Bookssica]

Interesting novel. The ending threw me off; it went rather political compared to the whole novel.

[lixie]

it did make me laugh i had fun reading it. but also, tennis balls and leechi seeds…? yeah no