Chasing Hepburn: A Memoir of Shanghai, Hollywood, and a Chinese Family's Fight for Freedom

by Gus Lee

“Lee . . . has created a gripping and beautiful portrait of his family. . . . Chasing Hepburn is nonfiction, but it reads just as richly as any novel.”— Boston Globe

“Gus Lee brings to his first work of nonfiction the consummate storytelling skills that have always delighted us in his critically acclaimed novels. I promise you that you will be captivated by this epic story of two families who epitomize all that is rich and varied in Chinese culture.”
—Ron Bass, screenwriter of The Joy Luck Club and Rain Man

Gus Lee takes us straight into the heart of twentieth-century Chinese society, offering a clear-eyed yet compassionate view of the forces that repeatedly tore apart and reconfigured the lives of his parents and their contemporaries. He moves deftly from recounting intimate household conversations to discussing major historical events, and the resulting story is by turns comic, harrowing, tragic, and heroic.

Chasing Hepburn is a saga that spans four generations, two continents, and half of Chinese history. In the masterful hands of acclaimed author Gus Lee, his ancestors’ stories spring vividly to life in a memoir with all the richness of great fiction.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2003

Reviews

[David Marxer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads better then the best fiction...the biography of a Chinese family not only coming from China to America but also passing between eras of history that boggle the mind. From the first chapter where the author's mother as a child resists her feet being bound to his father as a teenager being friends with gangsters and the Soongs youngest son, to the flight from China in the midst of war and, finally, giving birth to the promised son (the author)...I laughed and cried and felt so part of this family that I never wanted the story to end.

[Gene Wee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading China Boy a second time, I found Chasing Hepburn, the nonfiction account of Gus Lee's family that matched many details in his China Boy. I was enjoying the intimate family story tied in with so many historical events in twentieth century China and so many details paralleled my family's experiences with WWII and communist/KMT conflict. Gus was fortunate to have his father's autobiography to create this very well-written story. I compare his writing and research skills as being similar to Diane Gabaldon (The Outlander series) - creating a wonderful story with a mix of actual historical figures and attention details.

[Juneau Public Library]

Looking for a book that takes you to a different time and culture? Chasing Hepburn by Gus Lee is a fascinating family memoir taking the reader on an unforgettable journey from early 1900 China ending in post World War II San Francisco. It's an autobiography that reads like a novel, opening with two gripping stories of binding feet. Lee's parents lives weave through a China that has four factions trying to take control; the gangsters, the Taiping rebellion, the British opium trade, and the brutal occupation of the Japanese. Throughout the story Lee does a magnificent job of creating the atmosphere of the Chinese culture full of superstition, mystery, and tradition. The 1000 mile journey to escape the Japanese occupation that his mother and sisters take is in itself one great story. But, this book has many, many great stories throughout it. It's at times funny, mysterious, tension filled but always captivating.

Recommended by Nila

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the joining of two powerful Chinese families by marriage. Datsien was different than most young Chinese women at the time. She was outspoken,independent and narrowly escaped the predetermined fate of feet binding due to her kind hearted father. She marries the rebellious Zee Zee who travels the world as a member of the military, leaving his family to navigate the treachery of the government and war.

Datsien is a brave woman who escapes with her children to America to reunite with her husband. More than anything, she wants a son. In her culture, this will validate her as a successful woman. How proud she would be that the son has honored her with this book.

There is quite a bit of politics covered in this story. Unfortunately, I did not have sufficient knowledge to follow all of it. However, the story of love and family was universal.

[Janai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing story. I was thoroughly captivated!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book in the Gus Lee canon.

[Kathlynbrown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my brother who knows the author from Colorado Springs.

[Maryemcdevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story. Read it for a book group and it stimulated a lot of discussion.

[Constance Chevalier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing epic! From the turn of the century China to the California Peninsula, Da'tsien and Zee Zee had hard but intense lives. And it's all true!

[Holly]

Just started it as a selection for book club.