Escape from Red China

by Robert Loh

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: China, Memoir, Nonfiction, History

380 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2007

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually my second time reading this, but enjoyed it just as much the second time around. This is the harrowing true account of Robert Loh. He was in the midst of getting his education at an American university in the '50's, when some of his friends and acquaintances convinced him to return to China and work toward the building of a "New China". He was and idealist, and believed the Communist propaganda, wanted to make change, end corruption, and help his fellow countrymen. He rapidly worked his way up in the Communist Party, and even when witnessed or experienced things he did not agree with, he justified it to himself by thinking that when "change" was complete, all wrongs would be rectified. He dedicated himself for 8 years to his work for the "New China", but became disillusioned with the Communist promises in comparison to the horror, injustices, and inhumanity of the Communist Party. He resolved his only choice was to escape. He realized that the China he had envisioned would never be a reality. He hated to leave the love of his life, Li-Li. He had wanted to marry her, but she resolved to never marry again. Her first husband had been put in forced labor camp for being a "counter- revolutionary" and "wrong thinking" and had died due to the extreme conditions and abuse. She did not feel she had the strength herself to try to escape, and it was impossible for them to do so together, but she insisted that he do so and try to let the world know what was really going on there, that was contrary to what the mainstream media was reporting and what the Chinese government wanted the world to believe. He got out and managed to get to America, ended up working for the U.S. government. He said that it made him very sad, when trying to tell Americans about the truth of the Communists and what the Chinese people were enduring, that he would be told that he was just sour grapes because he had been a businessman, of the "bourgeois" class, which was contrary to the Communist way. He would try to relate that he gave not only the love of his life, but much power, luxury, and prestige, much more than he would ever enjoy in the U.S., in order to not only save himself but warn the world of what monsters the ruling class in China really were. This book was written in 1962, not long after his escape, and thus his memories are not distorted with time. A great book, and one I would highly recommend.
Read for https://twogalsandabook.com/ Alphabet Challenge Letter "E"

[Lee Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful book that gives great understanding how powerful and controlling was and is the Chinese Communist Party. Easier now to see behind their veil as they tightly control their appearance to the world.

[Charles Currens · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read. a book all Americans would benefit from reading.

[David McCaleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was recently given this book, copyright 1962, autographed 1963 along with a personal note from the author to Dr. Walter F. McCaleb, my great-grandfather. He also was a writer and, according to this note, turns out he knew the author personally.

I started reading the book because of the family history, but I finished because of what it holds. It provides insight into the communist realignment in China I have never heard. To walk through the story in this man's shoes, in fear, in lies... I still can't fully understand it.

I now appreciate more deeply what is occurring it North Korea. Ever wonder how so many thousands of citizens could mourn the death of a leader who oppressed them with Stalin-like tactics? Read this book. Growing up a free man, the grinding prison behind the communist façade is chilling.

Admittedly, the first few chapters were of higher caliber writing than the rest. Nevertheless, I gave it four stars because of the story. Truth is always that much more shocking.

[Symone Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read just in time for the 95th birthday of the CPC, this is the first published account of life in Red China from defector Robert Loh of China's intelligentsia class. "Escape" is the plea of China native Loh for the citizens of the West to peer beyond the Bamboo Curtain of sloganeering and unanimous acceptance into the actuality of constant fear and brutal repression of the 650 million Chinese citizens during Mao's revolutionary period. This account is clear and entertaining of the nevertheless hard-to-swallow subject matter of the powerful regime that wiped away China as it was known and replaced it with a state owned machine.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every American should read this book. If you want to know what communism is and does to a people, this is it. I was in blissful ignorance before reading it. Powerful story, with just a mature, but not too explicit comment here and there. He tells about some indiscretions before marriage, but I don't remember how offensive it was.

[A.S. Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still moving and relevant after 60 years

Bob Loh was a native, sophisticated Chinese academic and business man. His book has remained in print because it is one of the few reliable first-hand accounts of life in China in the first decade of Communist rule. A gripping and horrifying story.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auf Deutsch gelesen. Historisch akkurat und daher auch eine Erweiterung meines geschichtlichen Wissens.

[Brittney Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s fascinating to read, due the historical framing and perspective. It’s an ideal model for identifying and understanding American propaganda through a starkly black and white lens. But 1 star, because propaganda has historically never led to anything other than conflict throughout history.

[Cíntia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Só vi que era história real no fim... imagina meu choque

[John Pitcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a “back to the future” story and also reminiscent of “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. It’s possibly more relevant today than it was when it was written in the early 60s.

[T. Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a year ago and was impressed. It describes a glib inside view of Mainland China decade of 1949-1959, it is recalled. He managed to find a niche which prevented him from being ground up in the many society campaigns as a useful go-between man/front man. The funniest part is where he gets sent to the USSR and on a riverboat strikes up a jazz conversation in the common language of English with the young adult children of the ruling class, who loved the music. They had to convince a top minder in the Chinese delegation that the reason why the Soviet young "Stilyagi" listened to jazz was to see for themselves how decadent it was! The kids were most impressed that the author Goh had actually seen some of the performers play in person while going to school in the US. The then underground book _Ticket to the Stars_ by Vassily Aksyonov in 1960 describes this Jazz crowd as it was happening amongst the pampered elite, in many respects those from the top families were fairly immune from jail or other harsh measures.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Most importantly, this book shows how communism really worked in the PRC, with common thread of the USSR and elsewhere. Possibly the highest ranking defection during that time, he showed a human face of what happened and why. Also of interest was his escape, although he had permission to go (to get money for the government from his family it is recalled), rarity of anyone besides low level peasants to leave through Macao, and the near exhaustion/dehydration to get home in Hong Kong. According to the book, he left just the day the border was closed for the long Great Leap Forward campaign. In that effort 40 million people starved to death and the loss of face to Mao launched his solution: The Cultural Revolution.

A good companion to _Life And Death In Shanghai_ by Cheng Nien or _Private Life Of Chairman Mao_ by Dr. Li Zhisui to understand the make up of what happened. Escape is available at present freely online with Internet Archive ebook, which is a clean site. Others might have part on google books or amazon. I would not download a Pdf, so be careful on that score.

[Jackee (Lilly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book really makes you think of what price you would risk your life for freedom?