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Finding Mr. Wong
Susan Crean’s memoir Finding Mr. Wong chronicles her effort to piece together the life of the man she knew as Mr. Wong, cook and housekeeper to her Irish Canadian family for two generations. Reminiscing, Crean writes, “I grew up in Mr. Wong’s kitchen …”
A Chinese Head Tax payer hired by Crean’s grandfather in 1928, Wong Dong Wong remained on the job following Gordon Crean’s death in 1947. Mr. Wong eventually retired in 1965 and moved to Chinatown. Crean’s homage weaves the various strands of her memories of and discoveries about Mr. Wong during the last 25 years of his life; she travels the streets and histories of Chinatowns in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada, and twice she visits Guangdong, China, where she located his home village, found descendants of his father’s brother, and learned the beginning of his story: orphaned as a newborn, then brought to Canada by his uncle, Wong YeeWoen.
At the core of the narrative are Crean’s observations of the blurred lines between numerous socio-cultural dynamics (worker/employer, family/servant, child/adult). She particularly considers relationships that cross race as well as class. Beginning with the partnership formed by Crean’s grandfather and Mr. Wong – a partnership whose long alliance and evident mutual regard guaranteed Wong’s presence in Crean’s own
story – she relates her own experience grappling with racism as a small child in the Vancouver of the 1950s and 1960s. Crean’s exploration also considers memory and its role in the writing and researching of a book such as this. She meditates on the ways socio-cultural issues are represented (or not) in film and literature, ultimately combining fiction with historical recreations and memoir.
A Chinese Head Tax payer hired by Crean’s grandfather in 1928, Wong Dong Wong remained on the job following Gordon Crean’s death in 1947. Mr. Wong eventually retired in 1965 and moved to Chinatown. Crean’s homage weaves the various strands of her memories of and discoveries about Mr. Wong during the last 25 years of his life; she travels the streets and histories of Chinatowns in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada, and twice she visits Guangdong, China, where she located his home village, found descendants of his father’s brother, and learned the beginning of his story: orphaned as a newborn, then brought to Canada by his uncle, Wong YeeWoen.
At the core of the narrative are Crean’s observations of the blurred lines between numerous socio-cultural dynamics (worker/employer, family/servant, child/adult). She particularly considers relationships that cross race as well as class. Beginning with the partnership formed by Crean’s grandfather and Mr. Wong – a partnership whose long alliance and evident mutual regard guaranteed Wong’s presence in Crean’s own
story – she relates her own experience grappling with racism as a small child in the Vancouver of the 1950s and 1960s. Crean’s exploration also considers memory and its role in the writing and researching of a book such as this. She meditates on the ways socio-cultural issues are represented (or not) in film and literature, ultimately combining fiction with historical recreations and memoir.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Susan Crean
12 books4 followersSusan Crean is a cultural critic, author, and activist. A writer for over 30 years, Crean's expertise is in Canadian history, art and culture, topics on which she has written extensively.
She has been a pioneer of creative non-fiction in Canada, and is the author of seven books, the first, 'Who’s Afraid of Canadian Culture', appearing in 1976. Her next major work, 'The Laughing One – A Journey to Emily Carr', was nominated for a Governor General’s award and won a BC Book Prize in 2001.
Crean published her memoir, 'Finding Mr Wong', in 2018, a work that recreates the life of her family's cook, Wong Dong Wong, beginning with his journey from China to Vancouver, following his work as a domestic servant in Toronto to his eventual citizenship and retirement.
Crean spent a number of years researching Wong's story, visiting China in search of Mr. Wong`s home village, to get a better understanding of where Wong came from, what his prospects were as an orphan, and what his journey to Canada was like.
'Finding Mr Wong' recently reached the top 10 list of Best Canadian History books by Canada's History magazine.
She has been a pioneer of creative non-fiction in Canada, and is the author of seven books, the first, 'Who’s Afraid of Canadian Culture', appearing in 1976. Her next major work, 'The Laughing One – A Journey to Emily Carr', was nominated for a Governor General’s award and won a BC Book Prize in 2001.
Crean published her memoir, 'Finding Mr Wong', in 2018, a work that recreates the life of her family's cook, Wong Dong Wong, beginning with his journey from China to Vancouver, following his work as a domestic servant in Toronto to his eventual citizenship and retirement.
Crean spent a number of years researching Wong's story, visiting China in search of Mr. Wong`s home village, to get a better understanding of where Wong came from, what his prospects were as an orphan, and what his journey to Canada was like.
'Finding Mr Wong' recently reached the top 10 list of Best Canadian History books by Canada's History magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 11, 2018
3.5 stars
There is so much of our history that is glossed over when it paints an unflattering picture. Ms Crean did a good job of weaving general history with personal history. Sometimes there were bit and pieces that didn’t seem to fit but overall I felt that the author managed to tell the story effectively. I enjoyed reading and learning about Mr. Wong’s experiences, Chinese immigrant experiences and history as well as some Canadian history.
There is so much of our history that is glossed over when it paints an unflattering picture. Ms Crean did a good job of weaving general history with personal history. Sometimes there were bit and pieces that didn’t seem to fit but overall I felt that the author managed to tell the story effectively. I enjoyed reading and learning about Mr. Wong’s experiences, Chinese immigrant experiences and history as well as some Canadian history.
May 27, 2019
An intelligently-written book combining family history (two families), the history of emigrations, and how immigrants find their ways through difficulties personal and political. An excellent read.
July 22, 2019
Excellent!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews