The Sisters Mao

by Gavin McCrea

Against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution and Europe’s sexual revolution, the fates of two families in London and Beijing become unexpectedly intertwined, in this dazzling new novel from the author of Mrs Engels.


Revolution is a Family Affair.


In London, sisters Iris and Eva, members of a radical performance collective, plan an attack on the West End theatre where their mother is playing the title role in Miss Julie. Meanwhile in Beijing, Jiang Qing, Chairman Mao’s wife, rehearses a gala performance of her model ballet, The Red Detachment of Women, which she will use in order to attack her enemies in the Party.


As the preparations for these two astonishing performances unfold, Iris, Eva, and Jiang Qing are transformed into unforgettable protagonists in a single epic drama. The three ‘sisters’, although fighting very different personal battles, find themselves bound together by the passions of love, by the obsessions of power, and by the forces of history.


Exquisitely observed, relevant, and wise, The Sisters Mao shows us that the political is always personal.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Literary Fiction, Contemporary

560 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2021

About the author

Gavin McCrea was born in 1978 and has since travelled widely, living in Japan, Belgium and Italy, among other places. He holds a BA and an MA from University College Dublin, and an MA and a PhD from the University of East Anglia. He currently divides his time between the UK and Spain.

Reviews

[Eric Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was enthralled by debut novel “Mrs Engels” which shone a light on the experiences and insights of Lizzie Burns. She was a historical figure known primarily as the long-term partner of Friedrich Engels but she vibrantly came to life and into her own in McCrea's fictional account. It dramatically gave a personal slant on Marxism which can't be found in any history or philosophy book while telling a beautiful story. “The Sisters Mao” is not related to that first book in its characters or events, but it is a natural follow up in that it traces the effects of Marxism through the mid-20th century and describes personalities at the beating heart of this ideology. In many ways it's a much more ambitious and lengthy novel that spans multiple decades and countries while slipping backwards and forwards in time. The delicious secrets of its story are also deeply encoded in its structure which theatrically opens and closes. Its narrative also includes an “interruption” rather than an intermission. Performance is at the centre of this novel with all its bewitching flair and ability to convey truths that are dramatically revealed. The experience left me reeling in wonder and pondering its deeper meanings.

The story primarily focuses on the separate stories of sisters Iris and Eva who are central members of a radical performance collective in London. In 1968 their theatre is on the brink of closure since the cat-riddled building which many drifters use as a squat will be condemned and the owner (who is also their mother) wants to take back control of the property. Iris ekes out a living and helps support the collective by selling drugs while drifting through counterculture parties. Meanwhile, Eva leads members of their group to Paris to join in the notorious demonstrations which occurred that year in protest against capitalism and consumerism. When reunited the sisters hatch a shockingly disruptive plan to make a statement and confront their mother Alissa whose once-progressive values have been abandoned as she's become a mainstream West End actress. The narrative also switches for long sections to simultaneously follow the story of Jiang Qing (also known as Madame Mao) in 1974 when she takes control of a directing a ballet which is being presented for a stately visit from Imelda Marcos and which Jiang Qing wants to slyly use to suppress her enemies within the Party. Though the threads of this plot are somewhat complicated to explain the story gives generous space to each of them making it enjoyable and highly intriguing to follow. Together they also present compelling points of view to consider against each other and the ways in which embracing certain political beliefs warp these fascinating women's sense of justice.

Read my full review of The Sisters Mao by Gavin McCrea on LonesomeReader

[Ruben · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 - I am very happy to have read this completely original novel. If, like me, you know very little about Maoism or May 1968 then this novel is a great way to learn about this timeframe. I found especially the start completely fascinating, the settings felt very real and I was transported to this not so distant yet completely different world. I struggled a bit for about 150 pages in the middle, but the riveting ending made it very much worth it.

You get two alternating storylines: one set in London and Paris 1968, the other in Beijing 1974. The European storyline is about two sisters who run a communist theatre collective. Inspired by the Paris riots they plan a 'happening'. The Chinese storyline features the incredible Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong's wife, who as some sort of patron of the arts, interferes with a planned ballet performance for the occasion of a state visit of Imelda Marcos.

The alternating works really well, especially to highlight the complete disconnect between the real situation in China and the strange appeal it has on all these Europeans youngsters - disillusioned by Stalinism and now putting their hopes on Mao - claiming to aspire to live like simple Chinese peasants but in reality having no clue. Also the two English sisters could not be more different from Jiang Qing despite having the same revolutionary zeal.

It made me think a lot about idealism and living one's life dedicated to a greater idea. How genuine it is, but also whether this still exists today, and if not whether it is a bad when in a society the basics are no longer seriously questioned.

Another theme I found interesting is 'talent' and what if it transpires that you do not have as much of it as you perhaps thought you did. What if at some point you have no choice but to return to 'normal' capitalist society?

There is so much more to unpack (performance art, a love triangle, quite some drugs), it would be great to discuss this with a book club, although I guess it would not be the most obvious pick. It is quite a serious book, but a beautiful and fascinating one.

[Janilyn Kocher]

I had extreme difficulty getting into this book. I found the prose a bit stilted. The concept of the novel is very interesting, but alas it wasn’t for me. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the early copy.

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, a great story with beautifully crafted characters that intertwine in an unsuspected way.
I loved the way it looks into ideologism and how it applies to real life, and also its repercussions on family relationships (in particular mother and daughter relationship).
Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen Flynn]

I loved the first novel by this author (Mrs Engels) and awaited his next, which I was fortunate to get an early copy of, with eager curiosity. It did not disappoint!

The Sisters Mao is more ambitious than Mrs Engels and less hilarious, a very different work. Yet they share a certain magical quality that I'm struggling to describe: a confident use of language and a way of subverting reader expectations on every page, I would almost say every sentence. With both books, you feel utterly transported in time and place, without being able to say quite how it's done.

The Sisters Mao is actually two novels in one: two settings, two stories that run somewhat parallel yet never meet, but that indirectly comment on each other. One is set in late 1960s London and involves two sisters who are involved in the radical politics, avant-garde culture and drug-taking of that era. The other is set in 1970s China, in the waning days of the Cultural Revolution, and features the notorious Jiang Qing, aka Madame Mao, fourth wife of the famous Communist.

Jiang Qing is preparing for a visit from another infamous wife of a powerful man, Imelda Marcos of the Philippines, and is busy doing what she seems to have done best: making people around her nervous. The sisters, Eva and Iris, are dealing with the fact that they are soon to lose the place they've been squatting in along with the rest of their revolutionary theater collective, and come up with a truly, um, extreme plan to address this problem. As we gradually learn more about the sisters and their complicated family through a nonlinear storyline, the link between personal and political blurs and disappears.

I loved this book because of how it kept refusing at every turn to be what you might expect, how it hinted without preaching about the dangers of extremism and self-righteousness. What does it truly mean to be a revolutionary? And what is the cost?

[Sarah W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I receive a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.*

I struggled to get through this book - it's long and at times the multiple perspectives and stories felt disjointed. I liked the pieces of the book devoted to Jiang Qing most (I've long been fascinated by Mao's partner) and the pieces about the sisters Iris and Eva were less compelling. Overall, an interesting novel but not one that particularly resonated with me.

[Finn (theroyaltyreader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 🌟

The Sisters Mao, honestly i thought Mao Zedong's sisters or something. But turns out it's not, it's more to Jiang Qing, the wife of Mao Zedong (true story) and sisters, Iris and Eva who were a big supporter of Maoist. As in late 60s and 70s, communism was spread like wildfire. Some of them were daringly producing arts and theatre to spread communism among people. But the thing that author focused a lot was political movement that more likely turns out to be a personal. The best theme that the author higlighted here were motherhood and feminism. Theme that matter the most to me, woman and motherhood.

Never crossed in mind that communism was also supported a lot by people outside of China. I thought they totally hated especially Western people. They really believed on communism concept will help the peasant. However, I am still lacking of knowledge on communism idea to speak more. Tbh, Jiang Qing's POV is better than two sisters. Thanks to this POV, I got to know more about Mao's personal life. In Western, psychedelic times were on fire and consuming drugs were normal.

Anyway back to feminism theme, quotes that i mentioned were the proof. I can see the motherhood theme but it didn't give that deep impact to me. Sad to say, no Mao's POV at all. It must be interesting if we can go through briefly Mao's life as he was the famous communist leader after Stalin. I also think that I will love better if author actually put quotation marks on every dialogue. When it comes to Iris & Eva POV, I felt like I'm reading the BTS of on how theatre works. Some protesting thing. It didn't work our for me but ending gave an interesting impression for the sisters POV. For Jiang Qing, readers were left to interpret. I'm wishing more but overall, it is a half for me.

[Scribe Publications]

Written with McCrea’s trademark confidence and virtuosity, this is a sumptuous, winning book. Its characters are not so much drawn from life (Imelda Marcos makes an entrance) as strange revenants from a turbulent dream. Its high intelligence throws light everywhere, and suggestive shade.
Sebastian Barry

The tremors of Gavin McCrea’s prose thrillingly record what happens as a world spins off its axis, shattering public and private lives. This electrifying fiction confirms McCrea’s status among the leading novelists of his brilliant generation.
Frank McGuinness, Author of Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me

The Sisters Mao is a spectacular novel, utterly enthralling and insightful; every voice is penetrating, dazzling. In spite of the setting, it is full of relevance for these times; it manages to be both historically authentic and thrillingly contemporary. Gavin is a writer of extraordinary talent, and I cannot think of a kind of reader who I would not recommend this novel to.
Sara Baume, Author of Spill Simmer Falter Wither

Gavin McCrea is a wonderful writer: bold, innovative, and fiercely intelligent, and these qualities shine from this magnificent novel. I was enthralled from the first sentence to the last.
Donal Ryan, Author of Strange Flowers

A sweeping political saga spanning East and West. McCrea’s confident and lucid prose gives us both the personal and the political. Mesmerising.
Xiaolu Guo, Author of Lover’s Discourse

A new novel that’s so powerful I think it's going straight onto my shelf of favourite books. It's a moving, thrilling, and thoughtful story that will captivate you.
Eric Karl Anderson, Lonesome Reader

[Scribe Publications]

Written with McCrea’s trademark confidence and virtuosity, this is a sumptuous, winning book. Its characters are not so much drawn from life (Imelda Marcos makes an entrance) as strange revenants from a turbulent dream. Its high intelligence throws light everywhere, and suggestive shade.
Sebastian Barry

The tremors of Gavin McCrea’s prose thrillingly record what happens as a world spins off its axis, shattering public and private lives. This electrifying fiction confirms McCrea’s status among the leading novelists of his brilliant generation.
Frank McGuinness, Author of Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me

The Sisters Mao is a spectacular novel, utterly enthralling and insightful; every voice is penetrating, dazzling. In spite of the setting, it is full of relevance for these times; it manages to be both historically authentic and thrillingly contemporary. Gavin is a writer of extraordinary talent, and I cannot think of a kind of reader who I would not recommend this novel to.
Sara Baume, Author of Spill Simmer Falter Wither

Gavin McCrea is a wonderful writer: bold, innovative, and fiercely intelligent, and these qualities shine from this magnificent novel. I was enthralled from the first sentence to the last.
Donal Ryan, Author of Strange Flowers

A sweeping political saga spanning East and West. McCrea’s confident and lucid prose gives us both the personal and the political. Mesmerising.
Xiaolu Guo, Author of Lover’s Discourse

A new novel that’s so powerful I think it's going straight onto my shelf of favourite books. It's a moving, thrilling, and thoughtful story that will captivate you.
Eric Karl Anderson, Lonesome Reader

[Scribe Publications]

Written with McCrea’s trademark confidence and virtuosity, this is a sumptuous, winning book. Its characters are not so much drawn from life (Imelda Marcos makes an entrance) as strange revenants from a turbulent dream. Its high intelligence throws light everywhere, and suggestive shade.
Sebastian Barry

The tremors of Gavin McCrea’s prose thrillingly record what happens as a world spins off its axis, shattering public and private lives. This electrifying fiction confirms McCrea’s status among the leading novelists of his brilliant generation.
Frank McGuinness, Author of Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me

The Sisters Mao is a spectacular novel, utterly enthralling and insightful; every voice is penetrating, dazzling. In spite of the setting, it is full of relevance for these times; it manages to be both historically authentic and thrillingly contemporary. Gavin is a writer of extraordinary talent, and I cannot think of a kind of reader who I would not recommend this novel to.
Sara Baume, Author of Spill Simmer Falter Wither

Gavin McCrea is a wonderful writer: bold, innovative, and fiercely intelligent, and these qualities shine from this magnificent novel. I was enthralled from the first sentence to the last.
Donal Ryan, Author of Strange Flowers

A sweeping political saga spanning East and West. McCrea’s confident and lucid prose gives us both the personal and the political. Mesmerising.
Xiaolu Guo, Author of Lover’s Discourse

A new novel that’s so powerful I think it's going straight onto my shelf of favourite books. It's a moving, thrilling, and thoughtful story that will captivate you.
Eric Karl Anderson, Lonesome Reader

[Beth Withers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iris and Eva have been raised in an unconventional home with theatrical parents whose political and philosophical beliefs lean towards communism. The sisters attempt to carry on what they have learned in different ways through commune-like living and protesting, all the while trying to come to terms with each other and their differences, plus their parents' own issues, including a step-mother who is a performance artist. I am proud that I actually managed to read the entire book, because it was not easy. It was difficult to determine who was speaking at times since quotation marks aren't being used. It's tedious to have to go back to the beginning of a long dialog and count down the hashmarks to see who is saying something. There was more than once that I found myself confused by the time frame of a particular section of the novel; the years seemed to change abruptly and with little warning, leaving me to go back and reread to see what was going on, which is again, a tedious process. Perhaps if I were more interested in communism and the different ways that people feel about it, this may have interested me more. Ultimately, the characters bored me and I didn't really care about them, with the possible exception of Doris, the stepmother. She was a complex and intelligent addition to the novel.
**I received a free copy of the book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program in exchange for an honest review.**

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long and complex novel written from two perspectives both about pro Communists mainly in the 1960's. One story is about the wife of Chairman Mao during the Cultural Revolution period in China. She is preparing entertainment for state visit for Imelda Marcos, the wife of the Philippino leader. The second story revolves around arch rival sisters who are part of a pro Communist theater group run by their parents. This involves a major production they are putting on in England. This is the longest, most confusing play known to mankind. The characters are interesting but the plot is aimless.

[Rix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely enjoyed elements of this. The writing style is lovely and our main three characters all felt well realised. I think the major stumbling block for me came in the split between the European story and the Chinese story being told - both were told well and I saw the thematic link between them but with two characters being so close to each other emotionally and physically and the other not even knowing that they existed it did make me wonder why these two stories were being told alongside each other.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sisters Mao contains mostly dialogue, and the setting and individual psyche suffers in this book. What did I learn from this book? The experience of LSD on the mind. And the attitude of people who must have their drugs. The artist world runs rampant in this story and talks of revolution and life in a commune. A world that I have never entered, and still chose to avoid. At least this novel exposes the horrors of this lack of control.

[Chaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tells the parallel stories of sister in London in 1968 and the wife of Mao in the 70s. Their stories never "meet" or connect in any other way, but have some parallel themes. The writing here I found choppy and a little disjointed. I was never immersed in the experiences of the characters, whom I found shallow.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Librarything.com and Gavin McCrea for an Advanced Reading Copy of this book.

I usually love historical fiction, but this book seemed stilted, chapters out of order, and difficult to get through. The only chapter that I enjoyed was the very last chapter.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait to talk about this in book club. I need to hear others’ insights. Complex and fascinating!

[Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear. Don’t want to say too much as it wasn’t the book I was expecting it to be. Would have improved greatly with an edit. At least 100 pages too long.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything; history, relationships of all types, idealism, revolution, talent and lack thereof, desire for revenge and more. An interesting read.

[Sue Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virtuoso McCrea and his female voices - this time a truly stunning, ambitious novel that spans Mao-era China and London theatre in the 1960s, and drugs. Original. Astounding.

[Eliza303 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique, clever and compelling.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad that it is over!

[Shannon A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A masterfully woven thriller of political intrigue that that spans from China to London; McCrea turns the historical, the political and contemporary into a spinning top of mesmerizing prose.

[Jackie Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Considering this book had some reasonably good reviews I was very disappointed. I found it difficult to get into and was very long. The format of having 2 completely different stories made for confusing reading, I felt like I was reading 2 different books at the same time which for me is not enjoyable. It was very disjointed and at times hard to follow. The lack of speech marks and the way they chapters flipped between different years at the drop of a hat made it even more confusing. I struggled to get to the end and had to do a bit of skim reading to make it there. I am surprised that I actually finished it