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A Single Tear: A Family's Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China
In 1951, Ningkun Wu returned to China from the University of Chicago to teach English at the behest of the new Communist government. Two years later, he wa s arrested as an ultra-rightest. This illuminating narrative tells Wu's story over the next 30 years--the harrowing tale of a "class enemy" and a remarkable testament to a family's love and perseverance.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 1993
35 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
Wu Ningkun
2 books4 followersWu Ningkun (b.September 1920) was a Chinese writer and translator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 16, 2022
A very passionate autobiography by Wu Ningkun who was imprisoned in various areas of China for twenty years. He only saw his wife and children sporadically during that time. He endured starvation and diseases which took a physiological toll on him.
The author was sentenced for being a “rightist”, for not following the orthodoxy of “Mao Zedong Thought” while teaching at a Chinese university. He had lived and taught at universities in the U.S. prior to returning to China. This formed a significant part of the accusations against him. He was sent to various prisons and remote rural villages, where he was expected to reform his “rightist” ways and incorrect behaviour. This was part of the "Cultural Revolution" where the intelligentsia was to learn from the rural peasants. Education became devalued.
The entire country was in the thralls of the cult of Mao with many trying to outdo one another in their adulation and adherence to “Mao Zedong Thought”. The author became aware of his acquaintances committing suicide when faced with public and humiliating denunciations by their colleagues and sometimes even family members. One had to constantly be wary of what one revealed to “friends”.
This book is very personal, giving an inside perspective during China’s “Great Leap Forward” and “The Cultural Revolution”. We witness the cost this took on the author, his wife and children when one’s past, one small revelation could lead to persecution. Often, homes were ransacked and cherished possessions confiscated or stolen.
I recall reading that the difference between a democracy and a totalitarian regime is that in a democracy many don’t care what is being said or written; whereas in a dictatorship anything one writes or said can undergo a vicious inquisition to make one conform to state doctrines. This is certainly obvious in the life journey of the writer. I felt in reading that I got to know the author, his wife and children and their arduous life experience.
There are many recreated conversations of long ago, that while captivating, makes one wonder how this could have been recalled in such detail. But one still gets a unique and intimate grasp of China during these turbulent years – from the 1950s to the 1970s. I also would have liked to know how the author managed to leave China with his family during the early 1990s. I did learn from some internet searches that he died at the age of 98 in 2019, in the state of Virginia.
The author was sentenced for being a “rightist”, for not following the orthodoxy of “Mao Zedong Thought” while teaching at a Chinese university. He had lived and taught at universities in the U.S. prior to returning to China. This formed a significant part of the accusations against him. He was sent to various prisons and remote rural villages, where he was expected to reform his “rightist” ways and incorrect behaviour. This was part of the "Cultural Revolution" where the intelligentsia was to learn from the rural peasants. Education became devalued.
The entire country was in the thralls of the cult of Mao with many trying to outdo one another in their adulation and adherence to “Mao Zedong Thought”. The author became aware of his acquaintances committing suicide when faced with public and humiliating denunciations by their colleagues and sometimes even family members. One had to constantly be wary of what one revealed to “friends”.
This book is very personal, giving an inside perspective during China’s “Great Leap Forward” and “The Cultural Revolution”. We witness the cost this took on the author, his wife and children when one’s past, one small revelation could lead to persecution. Often, homes were ransacked and cherished possessions confiscated or stolen.
I recall reading that the difference between a democracy and a totalitarian regime is that in a democracy many don’t care what is being said or written; whereas in a dictatorship anything one writes or said can undergo a vicious inquisition to make one conform to state doctrines. This is certainly obvious in the life journey of the writer. I felt in reading that I got to know the author, his wife and children and their arduous life experience.
There are many recreated conversations of long ago, that while captivating, makes one wonder how this could have been recalled in such detail. But one still gets a unique and intimate grasp of China during these turbulent years – from the 1950s to the 1970s. I also would have liked to know how the author managed to leave China with his family during the early 1990s. I did learn from some internet searches that he died at the age of 98 in 2019, in the state of Virginia.
September 6, 2019
This is the account by Wu Ningkun and his wife Li Yikai, of their persecution in Communist China over several decades.
Wu Ningkun returned to China in 1951, from the United States, where he taught and studied at an American university, to serve China's new Communist regime.
He was repaid by persecution, denunciation and two long terms of imprisonment, starvation and torture in Red China's labour and "re-education" camps. Ningkun was sentenced to these horrors after he became critical of the lack of freedom of thought and speech in Communist China.
The book gives us a window into the horrors of the Mao tyranny, the Hundred Flowers Campaign and the demonic insanity of the Cultural Revolution.
Reading this account, we learn about the Orwellian brainwashing, that took place (and still does) in Communist China, known as "Thought reform" (This year hundreds of Tibetans have been sentenced to "re-education" in Chinese laoghais).
His wife with the young children, was dismissed from her job, and the family faced destitution, persecution and starvation.
The labels that were thrown about by hysterical Red mobs, such as "counterrevolutionaries", "imperialists and "capitalist running dogs" are still bandied about by the Red Chinese and by the hard left around the world today.
Indeed Ningkun was denounced for quoting Winston Churchill who was branded as an "arch-imperialist warmonger".
Indeed President George W Bush is in good company in being villified by the left for his brave stand against terror and Islamo-Nazism.
Those denounced during the Cultural Revolution were forced to wear armbands labelling them as "counterrevolutionaries". "rightists" etc, in a move reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
All the while China was being force fed on Mao's vile works on Mao's vile works- still sickeningly part of the staple diet of sections of the International Left today.
Wu Ningkun returned to China in 1951, from the United States, where he taught and studied at an American university, to serve China's new Communist regime.
He was repaid by persecution, denunciation and two long terms of imprisonment, starvation and torture in Red China's labour and "re-education" camps. Ningkun was sentenced to these horrors after he became critical of the lack of freedom of thought and speech in Communist China.
The book gives us a window into the horrors of the Mao tyranny, the Hundred Flowers Campaign and the demonic insanity of the Cultural Revolution.
Reading this account, we learn about the Orwellian brainwashing, that took place (and still does) in Communist China, known as "Thought reform" (This year hundreds of Tibetans have been sentenced to "re-education" in Chinese laoghais).
His wife with the young children, was dismissed from her job, and the family faced destitution, persecution and starvation.
The labels that were thrown about by hysterical Red mobs, such as "counterrevolutionaries", "imperialists and "capitalist running dogs" are still bandied about by the Red Chinese and by the hard left around the world today.
Indeed Ningkun was denounced for quoting Winston Churchill who was branded as an "arch-imperialist warmonger".
Indeed President George W Bush is in good company in being villified by the left for his brave stand against terror and Islamo-Nazism.
Those denounced during the Cultural Revolution were forced to wear armbands labelling them as "counterrevolutionaries". "rightists" etc, in a move reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
All the while China was being force fed on Mao's vile works on Mao's vile works- still sickeningly part of the staple diet of sections of the International Left today.
October 11, 2015
This is the best book I have read to understand the Chinese Cultural Revolution and how exactly, it tore apart the very fiber of life, but also, how a family could survive it and come out of it victorious. I usually read it once a year, just as a reminder of the beauty of freedom.
Ningkun Wu is hugely inspirational to me, and his wife and children, who also write certain chapters of the book, are just as inspirational. They not only survive a horrible era in history, but learn to keep the right perspective through it all and even humor, when there was none. This couple also learned how to instill in their children the value of freedom and other family principles, even though they were raised a majority of the time by the government daycare, "kindegarten" and Communist school system.
The author is also an extraordinary writer, who conveys the pain, suffering, loss and sorrow of this time in a beautiful and even poetic way at times. He learned to find the beauty in an ugly and disheartening system that left no room for creative thought, art, literature or faith of any kind.
Ningkun Wu is hugely inspirational to me, and his wife and children, who also write certain chapters of the book, are just as inspirational. They not only survive a horrible era in history, but learn to keep the right perspective through it all and even humor, when there was none. This couple also learned how to instill in their children the value of freedom and other family principles, even though they were raised a majority of the time by the government daycare, "kindegarten" and Communist school system.
The author is also an extraordinary writer, who conveys the pain, suffering, loss and sorrow of this time in a beautiful and even poetic way at times. He learned to find the beauty in an ugly and disheartening system that left no room for creative thought, art, literature or faith of any kind.
March 5, 2023
This powerful memoir by the culture revolution-surviving ultrarightist Wu Ningkun recounts his and his family's suffering and reminds people of the unforgettable lessons about the tragedy in the oppressive eras in China's 1950s-70s, and the danger of brainwashing. Even painstakingly recording his experience, the book is full of humor, one of the strengths that pulled him through the 30 years of ordeal. Another bless he had is his family, who supported him and loved him whatever the political atmosphere was. Many perished families were void of this: family members and friends detached, separated and attacked each other in the harsh political atmosphere in which everyone was called upon to criticize and self-criticize. In the end, Wu indeed did not suffer in vain although he summarized his life in the bitter phrases, "I returned, I suffered, I survived". In a certain sense, this book touches the soul and heart of readers more strikingly than Feng Jicai's "Ten Years in the Lives of 100 People" although the tragedy and suffering of the protagonists are everywhere equal. I found a Deja Vu while I read this book and watch what's happening in China nowadays. This is particularly alarming and thus demonstrates the importance that we cannot forget and repeat history.
August 15, 2020
Never hold a romantic imagination of history
A well-written, tearing book that really showed how terrifying, suffocating, and chilling it was during Mao's time. The book was originally written in English. I read this book in the Chinese version translated by the author himself, aiming to finish it in one go. But I couldn't. The emotional burden was so real that I had to pause and come back to it after a few days.
The author returned to serve the homeland that he loved in 1952, but little to be expected, he got thrown in the middle of several political campaigns and movement. Himself suffering through prisons, labor camps, nationwide famine caused by Mao's policy, and cultural revolution. Betrayal of close friends and colleagues only add to the severeness of his suffering
If he wasn't a well-educated man, if his spirit was not nurtured by classic literature and books, if he didn't have the Hamlet nor poem of Du Fu, I can't imagine there will be any slight chance to survive through 22 years of physical and spiritual suffering.
It's a terrifying time to live through, with no-one can be trusted, with nothing to depends on your life on.
The world today is maybe better than ever, but there is no guarantee that tomorrow we won't relive the history. While many Uyghurs already living in 21-century concentration camps, the return of evil is clearly on the horizon. To prevent it from becoming worse, please don't hold romantic imagination of the past.
Nothing should be taken for granted.
A well-written, tearing book that really showed how terrifying, suffocating, and chilling it was during Mao's time. The book was originally written in English. I read this book in the Chinese version translated by the author himself, aiming to finish it in one go. But I couldn't. The emotional burden was so real that I had to pause and come back to it after a few days.
The author returned to serve the homeland that he loved in 1952, but little to be expected, he got thrown in the middle of several political campaigns and movement. Himself suffering through prisons, labor camps, nationwide famine caused by Mao's policy, and cultural revolution. Betrayal of close friends and colleagues only add to the severeness of his suffering
If he wasn't a well-educated man, if his spirit was not nurtured by classic literature and books, if he didn't have the Hamlet nor poem of Du Fu, I can't imagine there will be any slight chance to survive through 22 years of physical and spiritual suffering.
It's a terrifying time to live through, with no-one can be trusted, with nothing to depends on your life on.
The world today is maybe better than ever, but there is no guarantee that tomorrow we won't relive the history. While many Uyghurs already living in 21-century concentration camps, the return of evil is clearly on the horizon. To prevent it from becoming worse, please don't hold romantic imagination of the past.
Nothing should be taken for granted.
January 21, 2020
I have nothing to say about that period in Chinese history. No fiction can be as hallucinatory as reality itself.
When the whole world went crazy, the ones who stay sober are the ones of misfortune. :(
When the whole world went crazy, the ones who stay sober are the ones of misfortune. :(
October 1, 2019
A book made me realize how ignorant am I about that period of history.
July 17, 2019
读这本书之前一个偶然的机会和一位中文系的教授聊到了作者，教授没有否认但是从他礼貌又为难的神情中，感觉可能在华语文学界，从文学层面来讲，这本书并没有被抬得很高。
书的价值仍然是不容被否定的——中国这一段丑陋的历史在官方上展露在大众面前的机会很少、甚至没有，也许文学性并不是很强，但是历史意义——从个人经历映射整个历史时代，绝对不能忽视。
后半段用怡楷（其妻）和自己的交叉叙述对当时经历进行描述和记录，两个人物视角，对经历不同程度的还原。可以从巫的话语中感到他的为人，应该是耿直，也许有些不谦虚，但是在教条式的要求每个人都说一样的话做一样的事情的环境下，他被落入了政治一个个的陷阱。
书的价值仍然是不容被否定的——中国这一段丑陋的历史在官方上展露在大众面前的机会很少、甚至没有，也许文学性并不是很强，但是历史意义——从个人经历映射整个历史时代，绝对不能忽视。
后半段用怡楷（其妻）和自己的交叉叙述对当时经历进行描述和记录，两个人物视角，对经历不同程度的还原。可以从巫的话语中感到他的为人，应该是耿直，也许有些不谦虚，但是在教条式的要求每个人都说一样的话做一样的事情的环境下，他被落入了政治一个个的陷阱。
September 6, 2020
"I came, I suffered, I survived" - A disturbing but enlightening insight into an incredibly dark period of China's history. Straight up Orwellian. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning about the Cultural Revolution / the Great Leap Foward
November 13, 2012
After visiting China I referred back to the various miscarriages of justices dealt to these people as background knowledge for my trip.
August 26, 2019
In my mind, the government owed Professor Wu and all the intellectuals back then an apology.
August 13, 2020
剛開始讀覺得作者的表達太情緒化了，到後來，也慢慢理解了。滿腔報國熱情，在二十餘年的政治運動消磨殆盡，“一筆勾銷”哪有那麼容易，或許，也是無奈与自己、与過去的環境和解吧。
August 13, 2025
2025年 8月14日，夏休，深夜读完这本书，以下是书中原文的摘录：
一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 49-54のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月10日日曜日 23:46:39
但是，早在���寒窗苦读之前，便传来国共内战烽火复燃的消息，使我的心境难以平静。灾难深重的祖国大地上正在进行一场殊死的大决战?。两年来，国内亲友不断来信，对新中国的新生事物赞不绝口。和大多数中国同学一样，我是在国难和内战的阴影下成长的，渴望出现一个繁荣富强的中国。现在，一个新时代、一个崭新的社会，似乎随着一个新政权的建立已经来到了。虽然我对国共斗争知之甚少，对共产主义或马克思主义更是一窍不通，我却从来没怀疑过我迟早要回国，用我的专长为一个新中国服务。不过，我还有博士论文要写，大可不必着急。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 67-71のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月10日日曜日 23:56:46
在台湾的哥哥和在香港的姐姐却把共产党比作「洪水猛兽」，但他们的迫切告诫并不能阻止我成行。在西南联大就读的两年里，我受到「进步」教授和左派同学亲共思想的影响。事实上，我已成为「进步的」学生文艺团体「冬青文艺社」的积极分子，从而开始阅读高尔基的小说和共产党的秘密传单。眼下我如饥似渴地阅读美共出版的《群众与主流》杂志，在书店里到处搜罗「进步」书刊。我的行李主要是几个装满了左派书刊的铁皮箱和纸板箱。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 75-77のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:00:03
照相留念之后，我愣头愣脑地问政道：「你为什么不回去为新中国工作？」他笑笑说：「我不愿让人洗脑子。?」我不明白脑子怎么洗法，并不觉得有什么可怕，也就一笑了之，乘风破浪回归一别八年的故土了。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 93-95のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:04:01
有一天，从广播大喇叭里传来一个通知：要求全体师生参加集体工间操。陈先生一听就火了：「这是『1984』来了，这么快！」
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 100-102のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:05:27
在本校毕业后错过了到美国深造的机会，而他在英美语言文学方面的造诣却是有口皆碑的。他还精通意大利文，当时已开始用诗体翻译但丁的《神曲》。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 133-135のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:10:04
我听了一个小时之后，思想就不断开小差，笔记也没认真记。散会出来，天色已晚，我疼痛的脑袋想起两三个月前李政道在分手前笑着说的「洗脑袋」的前景，难道前景这么快就要成为现实吗？也许
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 133-136のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:10:22
我听了一个小时之后，思想就不断开小差，笔记也没认真记。散会出来，天色已晚，我疼痛的脑袋想起两三个月前李政道在分手前笑着说的「洗脑袋」的前景，难道前景这么快就要成为现实吗？也许不会吧，我还心存侥幸。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 254-254のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:26:04
论功行赏，陆校长的爱女荣任北京市政协委员。吴兴华荣任新北大西语系英语教研室主任。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 292-293のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:40:53
当年我在芝加哥大学英文系的同学、诗人查良铮，和夫人周与良、芝大植物学博士，回到天津。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 27ページ|位置No. 356-357のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:51:02
我感到很恼火。这位仁兄，我对他英国文学方面的素养很赞赏，在和我交谈中他也经常表示认同我的政治观点，现在却摇身一变，干落井下石的勾当。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 35ページ|位置No. 484-486のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 1:01:49
“你说的是甚么权利？你真是书生气十足，教授先生。你不是生活在美国，而是在共产党的中国。”怡楷笑着说，把手伸了过来。“但愿你不会有太大的麻烦”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 38ページ|位置No. 548-551のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 1:06:24
当年我教的四年级班上有一个叫大江的男生，积极分子认为他思想反动，说以他为首形成一个反动学生俱乐部。他笑着反唇相讥道：“是啊，一个桥牌俱乐部，A Bridge Club,?简称ABC。要是落到克格勃手里，它一下就可以变成Anti Bolshevik Club、反共俱乐部，哈，哈，哈！”这话传开了，大家一笑置之。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 50ページ|位置No. 735-739のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:28:19
我就谈到罗斯福总统1941年提出的“四大自由”。我觉得那个文件是全世界的独立宣言。“但是你不会认识到它们如何重要，直到你生活在一个威胁要剥夺你享受这些自由的环境，”我说。“正如一个人认为有空气是天经地义的，从来不认识这个眼不能见的元素对他的生存本身如何重要。人不仅是生而平等的，而且是生来有言论自由的。但是，你怎能自由发表言论呢，除非你有免除恐惧的自由！”最后我激动地用英语高呼：“不自由，毋宁死！”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 52ページ|位置No. 763-764のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:30:48
我注意到“革命同志”人手一册，油印的《巫宁坤右派言论集，供批判用》。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 53ページ|位置No. 786-792のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:33:10
最后，国庆节前夕，我在教职员全体大会上被正式定为最毒的“毒草”—“极右分子、资产阶级右翼的骨干分子。”我犯的是反党、反人民、反社会主义的滔天罪行，因此我是一个“三反”反革命分子、人民公敌。我的罪行累累：我出身于反动地主家庭；我曾在反动的国民党空军当翻译；我多年接受美帝国主义教育；我和“ABC”反革命集团有关系；我参加过反革命集团最近的集会；我恶毒攻击伟大的肃反运动为私刑；我公开叫嚣要求给右派分子推翻社会主义中国的言论自由；我嚣张地高呼美帝的反动口号“不自由，毋宁死！”；我恶毒攻击“老大哥”，反对毛主席的“一边倒”外交政策；我猖狂攻击毛主席伟大的马克思主义文艺理论；我恨不得油炸共产党员；我在伟大的反右运动期间在家中窝藏现行反革命
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 54ページ|位置No. 792-794のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:33:23
分子小江；如此等等。义愤填膺的革命同志们高呼口号，让我“低头认罪”。面对张牙舞爪的革命同志们，我从椅子上站起来，声泪俱下地承认全部罪行。我觉得我在认罪时已经把自己糟蹋够了，他们还斥责我死不悔改。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 59ページ|位置No. 885-886のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:40:00
镇静自若。“为了帮助你，我们必须要求你自觉自愿提出放弃公职。明天，我等着看你亲笔写的要求退职的大字报。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 77ページ|位置No. 1168-1172のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:08:08
我明白跟他争论没用，但是我想知道宁坤在里面受到怎样的待遇。于是我又试探道：“同志，前不久，我跟学院的老师们一道来参观过模范监狱。挺不错的。教养所也是那样吗？” 他脸上露出觉得好笑的表情。“有时候，我真搞不清你们知识分子是怎么回事儿。”他说。“要是所有的监狱都像那个样子，那么它还叫‘模范’干啥？常有外宾来参观，一个劲儿地拍照 ，哈哈哈！”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 84ページ|位置No. 1269-1270のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:15:27
用大跃进的术语，大幅度延长劳动时间叫做“放卫星”。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 88ページ|位置No. 1328-1331のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:20:02
回想1937年冬，日军逼近扬州，我高中还没毕业，就含泪告别家人，一路唱着《松花江上》，只身流浪他乡。谁会料到呢，二十年后，日军早已战败，中国大陆也已“解放”，我倒反而在自己的国土上沦为阶下囚，万里迢迢，抛妻别子，在大豆之乡哼唱同一支令人心碎的歌曲。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 104ページ|位置No. 1597-1598のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:38:46
“李怡楷同志，全国都在大跃进，”他边抽烟边说。“全国各地都在建立新的大学。其中一所是安徽大学，
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 111ページ|位置No. 1722-1723のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:46:46
和全国各地一样，安大也是“政治挂帅”。政治学习、大会小会占用上班时间，下班时间就任意推迟，星期日经常放卫星。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 121ページ|位置No. 1879-1881のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:00:41
了不起的新措施！一个政府无力供应人犯最低的口粮，把责任转嫁给他们的家属，却仍旧把他们关在监狱里从事强迫劳动！
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 165ページ|位置No. 2600-2601のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:32:01
天安门城楼上高悬着毛泽东巨幅画像，相形之下，下面的行人好像小人国的侏儒。我
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 169ページ|位置No. 2665-2671のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:37:16
有一次，怡楷问我，在受了十年的磨难之后，我有没有懊悔过回祖国来。我说：“其实没有。面临死亡的恐惧的折磨，我也有过短暂的痛苦的悔恨。但是一瞬即逝，当我记起有多少人，比我更冤枉，已经饿死或正在饿死。在北大荒大雪封门的日子，我有空闲反思十年来我自己走过的人生道路。在我回国以前，看上去好像有几种途径可供取舍，但我不可能作出其它选择。我的决定是我的一生、我的梦与幻想、我的长处和短处、以及因缘际会的自然结果。当然啦，最好能让我免喝苦杯，但是喝苦杯肯定胜过与狗腿子们同流合污。不管怎么说，如果我不回来，我就决不会找到你的。”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 173ページ|位置No. 2730-2733のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:41:06
首先，由于受从“老大哥”引进的教学法的影响，英语阅读课早已被简化为学习词汇和语法重点。精读课要求学生死记硬背单词和一大堆分析语法结构用的专门名词。课文在这个过程中不见了，因此学生并不真的学会怎样读书。泛读课的要求更低，学生只要记几个新单词，会作简单的复述就行了。当年我说过，这种机械的方法是培养学究和奴才的最佳途径。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 317ページ|位置No. 5098-5099のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:01:46
他就直瞪着我，两眼流露出“阶级仇恨”。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 328ページ|位置No. 5280-5286のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:18:30
我收到老师寄赠的条幅，是他用小篆写在宣纸上的陈雨义的词《临江仙》，我在交谈中曾提到过这首令我心醉的宋词。词人劫后余生，追忆故国旧游，感喟国破家亡之痛： 二十余年如一梦， 此身虽在堪惊。 闲登小阁看新晴。 古今多少事， 渔唱起三更。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 332ページ|位置No. 5360-5364のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:25:06
已出版的也不能再版。我翻译的《白求恩大夫的故事》1954年在上海出版，却由三联书店于七十年代在香港两次盗版，连译者的名字也没署。1978年北京三联书店派一位编辑来芜湖找我，约我修订旧译，1979年在北京再版，纪念白求恩逝世四十周年，这次署上译者的大名。我问这位编辑，三联当年在香港以那种方式翻印我的译著，做法是否恰当？他的姿态很高：“反正是宣传进步作品嘛。”我过去翻译的美国短篇小说也在一些新出版的选集中出现，当然没有稿酬。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 333ページ|位置No. 5366-5372のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:27:22
但是，���位威尔斯天才诗人椎心泣血的诗篇曾伴我走过漫长的灵魂受难的岁月，我勉为其难翻译了五首。其中一首，《不要温和地走进那个良夜》，作于诗人的父亲逝世前的病危期间： 不要温和地走进那个良夜， 老年应当在日暮时燃烧咆哮； 怒斥，怒斥光明的消逝。 对于我们这一代饱经沧桑的老人，这好比暮鼓晨钟！
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 337ページ|位置No. 5433-5434のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:35:04
1958年戴上右派帽子，1964年“摘帽右派”，1980年“错划右派”，二十二年的黄金岁月一笔勾销！
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 49-54のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月10日日曜日 23:46:39
但是，早在���寒窗苦读之前，便传来国共内战烽火复燃的消息，使我的心境难以平静。灾难深重的祖国大地上正在进行一场殊死的大决战?。两年来，国内亲友不断来信，对新中国的新生事物赞不绝口。和大多数中国同学一样，我是在国难和内战的阴影下成长的，渴望出现一个繁荣富强的中国。现在，一个新时代、一个崭新的社会，似乎随着一个新政权的建立已经来到了。虽然我对国共斗争知之甚少，对共产主义或马克思主义更是一窍不通，我却从来没怀疑过我迟早要回国，用我的专长为一个新中国服务。不过，我还有博士论文要写，大可不必着急。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 67-71のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月10日日曜日 23:56:46
在台湾的哥哥和在香港的姐姐却把共产党比作「洪水猛兽」，但他们的迫切告诫并不能阻止我成行。在西南联大就读的两年里，我受到「进步」教授和左派同学亲共思想的影响。事实上，我已成为「进步的」学生文艺团体「冬青文艺社」的积极分子，从而开始阅读高尔基的小说和共产党的秘密传单。眼下我如饥似渴地阅读美共出版的《群众与主流》杂志，在书店里到处搜罗「进步」书刊。我的行李主要是几个装满了左派书刊的铁皮箱和纸板箱。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 75-77のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:00:03
照相留念之后，我愣头愣脑地问政道：「你为什么不回去为新中国工作？」他笑笑说：「我不愿让人洗脑子。?」我不明白脑子怎么洗法，并不觉得有什么可怕，也就一笑了之，乘风破浪回归一别八年的故土了。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 93-95のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:04:01
有一天，从广播大喇叭里传来一个通知：要求全体师生参加集体工间操。陈先生一听就火了：「这是『1984』来了，这么快！」
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 100-102のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:05:27
在本校毕业后错过了到美国深造的机会，而他在英美语言文学方面的造诣却是有口皆碑的。他还精通意大利文，当时已开始用诗体翻译但丁的《神曲》。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 133-135のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:10:04
我听了一个小时之后，思想就不断开小差，笔记也没认真记。散会出来，天色已晚，我疼痛的脑袋想起两三个月前李政道在分手前笑着说的「洗脑袋」的前景，难道前景这么快就要成为现实吗？也许
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 133-136のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:10:22
我听了一个小时之后，思想就不断开小差，笔记也没认真记。散会出来，天色已晚，我疼痛的脑袋想起两三个月前李政道在分手前笑着说的「洗脑袋」的前景，难道前景这么快就要成为现实吗？也许不会吧，我还心存侥幸。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 254-254のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:26:04
论功行赏，陆校长的爱女荣任北京市政协委员。吴兴华荣任新北大西语系英语教研室主任。
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一滴泪 (巫宁坤)
- 位置No. 292-293のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:40:53
当年我在芝加哥大学英文系的同学、诗人查良铮，和夫人周与良、芝大植物学博士，回到天津。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 27ページ|位置No. 356-357のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 0:51:02
我感到很恼火。这位仁兄，我对他英国文学方面的素养很赞赏，在和我交谈中他也经常表示认同我的政治观点，现在却摇身一变，干落井下石的勾当。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 35ページ|位置No. 484-486のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 1:01:49
“你说的是甚么权利？你真是书生气十足，教授先生。你不是生活在美国，而是在共产党的中国。”怡楷笑着说，把手伸了过来。“但愿你不会有太大的麻烦”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 38ページ|位置No. 548-551のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 1:06:24
当年我教的四年级班上有一个叫大江的男生，积极分子认为他思想反动，说以他为首形成一个反动学生俱乐部。他笑着反唇相讥道：“是啊，一个桥牌俱乐部，A Bridge Club,?简称ABC。要是落到克格勃手里，它一下就可以变成Anti Bolshevik Club、反共俱乐部，哈，哈，哈！”这话传开了，大家一笑置之。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 50ページ|位置No. 735-739のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:28:19
我就谈到罗斯福总统1941年提出的“四大自由”。我觉得那个文件是全世界的独立宣言。“但是你不会认识到它们如何重要，直到你生活在一个威胁要剥夺你享受这些自由的环境，”我说。“正如一个人认为有空气是天经地义的，从来不认识这个眼不能见的元素对他的生存本身如何重要。人不仅是生而平等的，而且是生来有言论自由的。但是，你怎能自由发表言论呢，除非你有免除恐惧的自由！”最后我激动地用英语高呼：“不自由，毋宁死！”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 52ページ|位置No. 763-764のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:30:48
我注意到“革命同志”人手一册，油印的《巫宁坤右派言论集，供批判用》。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 53ページ|位置No. 786-792のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:33:10
最后，国庆节前夕，我在教职员全体大会上被正式定为最毒的“毒草”—“极右分子、资产阶级右翼的骨干分子。”我犯的是反党、反人民、反社会主义的滔天罪行，因此我是一个“三反”反革命分子、人民公敌。我的罪行累累：我出身于反动地主家庭；我曾在反动的国民党空军当翻译；我多年接受美帝国主义教育；我和“ABC”反革命集团有关系；我参加过反革命集团最近的集会；我恶毒攻击伟大的肃反运动为私刑；我公开叫嚣要求给右派分子推翻社会主义中国的言论自由；我嚣张地高呼美帝的反动口号“不自由，毋宁死！”；我恶毒攻击“老大哥”，反对毛主席的“一边倒”外交政策；我猖狂攻击毛主席伟大的马克思主义文艺理论；我恨不得油炸共产党员；我在伟大的反右运动期间在家中窝藏现行反革命
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 54ページ|位置No. 792-794のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:33:23
分子小江；如此等等。义愤填膺的革命同志们高呼口号，让我“低头认罪”。面对张牙舞爪的革命同志们，我从椅子上站起来，声泪俱下地承认全部罪行。我觉得我在认罪时已经把自己糟蹋够了，他们还斥责我死不悔改。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 59ページ|位置No. 885-886のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 15:40:00
镇静自若。“为了帮助你，我们必须要求你自觉自愿提出放弃公职。明天，我等着看你亲笔写的要求退职的大字报。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 77ページ|位置No. 1168-1172のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:08:08
我明白跟他争论没用，但是我想知道宁坤在里面受到怎样的待遇。于是我又试探道：“同志，前不久，我跟学院的老师们一道来参观过模范监狱。挺不错的。教养所也是那样吗？” 他脸上露出觉得好笑的表情。“有时候，我真搞不清你们知识分子是怎么回事儿。”他说。“要是所有的监狱都像那个样子，那么它还叫‘模范’干啥？常有外宾来参观，一个劲儿地拍照 ，哈哈哈！”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 84ページ|位置No. 1269-1270のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:15:27
用大跃进的术语，大幅度延长劳动时间叫做“放卫星”。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 88ページ|位置No. 1328-1331のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:20:02
回想1937年冬，日军逼近扬州，我高中还没毕业，就含泪告别家人，一路唱着《松花江上》，只身流浪他乡。谁会料到呢，二十年后，日军早已战败，中国大陆也已“解放”，我倒反而在自己的国土上沦为阶下囚，万里迢迢，抛妻别子，在大豆之乡哼唱同一支令人心碎的歌曲。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 104ページ|位置No. 1597-1598のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:38:46
“李怡楷同志，全国都在大跃进，”他边抽烟边说。“全国各地都在建立新的大学。其中一所是安徽大学，
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 111ページ|位置No. 1722-1723のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 16:46:46
和全国各地一样，安大也是“政治挂帅”。政治学习、大会小会占用上班时间，下班时间就任意推迟，星期日经常放卫星。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 121ページ|位置No. 1879-1881のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:00:41
了不起的新措施！一个政府无力供应人犯最低的口粮，把责任转嫁给他们的家属，却仍旧把他们关在监狱里从事强迫劳动！
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 165ページ|位置No. 2600-2601のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:32:01
天安门城楼上高悬着毛泽东巨幅画像，相形之下，下面的行人好像小人国的侏儒。我
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 169ページ|位置No. 2665-2671のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:37:16
有一次，怡楷问我，在受了十年的磨难之后，我有没有懊悔过回祖国来。我说：“其实没有。面临死亡的恐惧的折磨，我也有过短暂的痛苦的悔恨。但是一瞬即逝，当我记起有多少人，比我更冤枉，已经饿死或正在饿死。在北大荒大雪封门的日子，我有空闲反思十年来我自己走过的人生道路。在我回国以前，看上去好像有几种途径可供取舍，但我不可能作出其它选择。我的决定是我的一生、我的梦与幻想、我的长处和短处、以及因缘际会的自然结果。当然啦，最好能让我免喝苦杯，但是喝苦杯肯定胜过与狗腿子们同流合污。不管怎么说，如果我不回来，我就决不会找到你的。”
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 173ページ|位置No. 2730-2733のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月11日月曜日 17:41:06
首先，由于受从“老大哥”引进的教学法的影响，英语阅读课早已被简化为学习词汇和语法重点。精读课要求学生死记硬背单词和一大堆分析语法结构用的专门名词。课文在这个过程中不见了，因此学生并不真的学会怎样读书。泛读课的要求更低，学生只要记几个新单词，会作简单的复述就行了。当年我说过，这种机械的方法是培养学究和奴才的最佳途径。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 317ページ|位置No. 5098-5099のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:01:46
他就直瞪着我，两眼流露出“阶级仇恨”。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 328ページ|位置No. 5280-5286のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:18:30
我收到老师寄赠的条幅，是他用小篆写在宣纸上的陈雨义的词《临江仙》，我在交谈中曾提到过这首令我心醉的宋词。词人劫后余生，追忆故国旧游，感喟国破家亡之痛： 二十余年如一梦， 此身虽在堪惊。 闲登小阁看新晴。 古今多少事， 渔唱起三更。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 332ページ|位置No. 5360-5364のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:25:06
已出版的也不能再版。我翻译的《白求恩大夫的故事》1954年在上海出版，却由三联书店于七十年代在香港两次盗版，连译者的名字也没署。1978年北京三联书店派一位编辑来芜湖找我，约我修订旧译，1979年在北京再版，纪念白求恩逝世四十周年，这次署上译者的大名。我问这位编辑，三联当年在香港以那种方式翻印我的译著，做法是否恰当？他的姿态很高：“反正是宣传进步作品嘛。”我过去翻译的美国短篇小说也在一些新出版的选集中出现，当然没有稿酬。
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 333ページ|位置No. 5366-5372のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:27:22
但是，���位威尔斯天才诗人椎心泣血的诗篇曾伴我走过漫长的灵魂受难的岁月，我勉为其难翻译了五首。其中一首，《不要温和地走进那个良夜》，作于诗人的父亲逝世前的病危期间： 不要温和地走进那个良夜， 老年应当在日暮时燃烧咆哮； 怒斥，怒斥光明的消逝。 对于我们这一代饱经沧桑的老人，这好比暮鼓晨钟！
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一滴泪：从肃反到文革的回忆 = A Single Tear A Familys Persecution, Love, and Endurance in Communist China (巫宁坤) (Z-Library) (巫宁坤)
- 337ページ|位置No. 5433-5434のハイライト |作成日: 2025年8月14日木曜日 0:35:04
1958年戴上右派帽子，1964年“摘帽右派”，1980年“错划右派”，二十二年的黄金岁月一笔勾销！
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July 17, 2018
其实我是想给4.5的，因为我觉得他在劳改和饥荒的痛苦居然没有仔细描写，不开心呀。不过语言啥的还是挺好的
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2023
nonstop suffering, my contribution to this review is
i learned that the writer was a good friend of my grandfather and my mother knew him and his sons at wuhu university; she's friends with his sons today who have immigrated to the united states. As she has.
i have no idea if his story is typical. for a story of suffering it is relatively free of death. I know in my immediate family, a few people were driven to suicide in the kind of humiliation Wu details, which is the basic humiliation of ostracism, a word from athenian greece, in which all the citizens one day a year wrote a name on a coin, and the most frequent coin --name-- was sent out of athens into exile for 5 years. Symbolic of a democratic process of exclusion. Ritualized there in athens. This process goes totally out of control in a country trying to claw its way out of the devastation of nearly continuous war from 1917 1945. Along with the agitations of a submerged feudal revolution like that of the bolsheviks in russia. Spoilers: they fail, is crippled by a totalitarinism, and idiotic state intervention in the economy, and the environment, intellectuals, human rights, and leaves many victims, many of whom, as far as I can tell, send their sons & daughters out of China in the 1980s and 1990s, and whose sons and daughters become my parents generation of Chinese-American immigrants, people who desperately believe in the ideals of meritocracy, free market, and American exceptionalism. Values that I, as an American, equally desperately repudiated for the first 25 years of my life, but increasingly understand.
i learned that the writer was a good friend of my grandfather and my mother knew him and his sons at wuhu university; she's friends with his sons today who have immigrated to the united states. As she has.
i have no idea if his story is typical. for a story of suffering it is relatively free of death. I know in my immediate family, a few people were driven to suicide in the kind of humiliation Wu details, which is the basic humiliation of ostracism, a word from athenian greece, in which all the citizens one day a year wrote a name on a coin, and the most frequent coin --name-- was sent out of athens into exile for 5 years. Symbolic of a democratic process of exclusion. Ritualized there in athens. This process goes totally out of control in a country trying to claw its way out of the devastation of nearly continuous war from 1917 1945. Along with the agitations of a submerged feudal revolution like that of the bolsheviks in russia. Spoilers: they fail, is crippled by a totalitarinism, and idiotic state intervention in the economy, and the environment, intellectuals, human rights, and leaves many victims, many of whom, as far as I can tell, send their sons & daughters out of China in the 1980s and 1990s, and whose sons and daughters become my parents generation of Chinese-American immigrants, people who desperately believe in the ideals of meritocracy, free market, and American exceptionalism. Values that I, as an American, equally desperately repudiated for the first 25 years of my life, but increasingly understand.
June 18, 2025
I just feel I’m obligated to know more about my country.
I knew Cultural Revolution had been a catastrophe to many Chinese families,but I didn’t know it would be that serious; I knew Mao had killed many Chinese indirectly,but I didn’t know it would be that much. Millions of Chinese died just because of one man’s order,which was similar to what happened during the zero-covid period in China a few years ago.The history repeats itself because the system is defective. A party without competitors is a danger looming over China; a man without power limits is a threat to 1.4 billion Chinese.
“I had been familiar with stories of Japanese atrocities since I was a schoolboy, but this was my first sight of their unbelievable inhumanities. And these corpses were only an infinitesimal fraction of the millions of victims of Japanese aggression! The sight of the pit made us all somber and speechless. How could any Chinese who had survived forgive and forget? My mind, however, soon wandered to the millions of victims of the recent famine and the preceding political campaigns. Would a museum be built for them too?”
“Survival is surely an endless adventure in this land, doctor.”
“The use of wanton brutal force, which outraged the nation and the world, was not the mistaken choice in a moment of passion,but followed the inexorable logic of the escalation of violent politicalcampaigns over die four decades of proletarian dictatorship, asmirrored in our single tear.”
I knew Cultural Revolution had been a catastrophe to many Chinese families,but I didn’t know it would be that serious; I knew Mao had killed many Chinese indirectly,but I didn’t know it would be that much. Millions of Chinese died just because of one man’s order,which was similar to what happened during the zero-covid period in China a few years ago.The history repeats itself because the system is defective. A party without competitors is a danger looming over China; a man without power limits is a threat to 1.4 billion Chinese.
“I had been familiar with stories of Japanese atrocities since I was a schoolboy, but this was my first sight of their unbelievable inhumanities. And these corpses were only an infinitesimal fraction of the millions of victims of Japanese aggression! The sight of the pit made us all somber and speechless. How could any Chinese who had survived forgive and forget? My mind, however, soon wandered to the millions of victims of the recent famine and the preceding political campaigns. Would a museum be built for them too?”
“Survival is surely an endless adventure in this land, doctor.”
“The use of wanton brutal force, which outraged the nation and the world, was not the mistaken choice in a moment of passion,but followed the inexorable logic of the escalation of violent politicalcampaigns over die four decades of proletarian dictatorship, asmirrored in our single tear.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2024
It has been in my bucket for more than a year until I read Selma last week. I was not happy with Selma's various pursuit of "privileges", and I decided to see what A Single Tear could present about those decades. Wu is well beyond my expectations.
Some of the following quotes may bring you discomfort. Be careful if you continue.
怡楷的舅父舅母在光天化日之下，在自己家里被红卫兵残酷斗争之后活活打死。她的继祖母和女儿不堪红卫兵的凌辱，双双自缢。四位老人的尸体被扔上卡车送到火化场。谁能告诉我，为什么这些无辜的老人要被青年学生如此残暴地杀害，而这些爷爷奶奶本来会像自己的孙男孙女一样疼爱他们的？为什么以文化大革命的名义肆无忌惮地犯下了这么多无可饶恕的罪行？两年前姥姥去世，怡楷悲痛无比，现在她反而觉得老人家至少逃过了这场劫难。在红色恐怖统治下的国土上，死亡成了唯一的避难所。
在市中心，一帮中学生红卫兵闯进一位老年学者家中，把他毕生收集的三千册中国古典文学善本书统统扔进他们在门前生起的一堆篝火，老人家痛不欲生，从二楼书房的窗口朝着篝火跳下，当场毙命。红卫兵见死不救，反而当众宣布：“死者顽固不化，自绝于党，自绝于人民，死了活该，打成现行反革命。”
我走到四旧室，发现里面已经放满了图书、艺术品、衣服等等，便自我安慰我的损失和别人比起来实在微不足道。但是后来听到怡楷三哥世瑜的损失，我却吓呆了。他是世界知名的中国民间宗教专家，几十年来好不容易收集了几千种稀有的“宝卷”，却被街道上的红卫兵用三部板车拉走了，下落不明 。
事情很快就水落石出：死者生前曾遭一名至数名工人毛泽东思想宣传队成员奸污，并受到威胁，她如胆敢泄露真相，他们将严惩她的爱人。后来，死者发现自己有孕，就向外语系工宣队头目请假，要找一家医院打胎。但是，按政府规定，必须提供父方姓名。这头目不但不设法帮忙，反而威胁说，如果她胆敢泄密，将以“腐蚀工人阶级”罪论处。
“英姐，快让我看你的双胞女儿们。”我一进屋就喳喳开了。
屋里暗暗的，她躺在床上。我走近了一些，看到她在哭。
“她为什么哭？”一进堂屋，我迫不及待地问。“咳，命苦啊。”她的眼圈红了。“已经养了二个给把人家的东西，又来了二个吃饭的。大年初一，图个吉利。初二才把二个讨债的丢到河里去了。”
不记得怎么离开她家的。这两个可怜的女孩子，倒是随着河水，清清爽爽的去了。不像其它同命运的女孩子们，一生下来就给倒提着，往尿桶里一丢了事。
七十余年如一梦
不留软骨羞儿曹
Some of the following quotes may bring you discomfort. Be careful if you continue.
怡楷的舅父舅母在光天化日之下，在自己家里被红卫兵残酷斗争之后活活打死。她的继祖母和女儿不堪红卫兵的凌辱，双双自缢。四位老人的尸体被扔上卡车送到火化场。谁能告诉我，为什么这些无辜的老人要被青年学生如此残暴地杀害，而这些爷爷奶奶本来会像自己的孙男孙女一样疼爱他们的？为什么以文化大革命的名义肆无忌惮地犯下了这么多无可饶恕的罪行？两年前姥姥去世，怡楷悲痛无比，现在她反而觉得老人家至少逃过了这场劫难。在红色恐怖统治下的国土上，死亡成了唯一的避难所。
在市中心，一帮中学生红卫兵闯进一位老年学者家中，把他毕生收集的三千册中国古典文学善本书统统扔进他们在门前生起的一堆篝火，老人家痛不欲生，从二楼书房的窗口朝着篝火跳下，当场毙命。红卫兵见死不救，反而当众宣布：“死者顽固不化，自绝于党，自绝于人民，死了活该，打成现行反革命。”
我走到四旧室，发现里面已经放满了图书、艺术品、衣服等等，便自我安慰我的损失和别人比起来实在微不足道。但是后来听到怡楷三哥世瑜的损失，我却吓呆了。他是世界知名的中国民间宗教专家，几十年来好不容易收集了几千种稀有的“宝卷”，却被街道上的红卫兵用三部板车拉走了，下落不明 。
事情很快就水落石出：死者生前曾遭一名至数名工人毛泽东思想宣传队成员奸污，并受到威胁，她如胆敢泄露真相，他们将严惩她的爱人。后来，死者发现自己有孕，就向外语系工宣队头目请假，要找一家医院打胎。但是，按政府规定，必须提供父方姓名。这头目不但不设法帮忙，反而威胁说，如果她胆敢泄密，将以“腐蚀工人阶级”罪论处。
“英姐，快让我看你的双胞女儿们。”我一进屋就喳喳开了。
屋里暗暗的，她躺在床上。我走近了一些，看到她在哭。
“她为什么哭？”一进堂屋，我迫不及待地问。“咳，命苦啊。”她的眼圈红了。“已经养了二个给把人家的东西，又来了二个吃饭的。大年初一，图个吉利。初二才把二个讨债的丢到河里去了。”
不记得怎么离开她家的。这两个可怜的女孩子，倒是随着河水，清清爽爽的去了。不像其它同命运的女孩子们，一生下来就给倒提着，往尿桶里一丢了事。
七十余年如一梦
不留软骨羞儿曹
January 30, 2023
This is an amazing and deeply moving book. It is the personal story of a Chinese born but American educated English professor who accepted an invitation to go home to China to teach after the victory of the Communist revolution. But his happiness was short lived. Soon he was caught up in the revolutionary fervor of the fifties and sixties, as an aging and increasingly paranoid Mao strove to make permanent his legacy.
Newly married Wu was arrested, imprisoned, released, reassigned for decades. He and his wife, who suffered much the same fate, had three children. But the Party cared only about rules, not humans, and the family was often split.
Yet there were also people who maintained their humanity; wherever he wound up there were some kindly faces. And the family, somehow, managed not to hate (tho there were some strong dislikes). A story of quiet heroism!
Newly married Wu was arrested, imprisoned, released, reassigned for decades. He and his wife, who suffered much the same fate, had three children. But the Party cared only about rules, not humans, and the family was often split.
Yet there were also people who maintained their humanity; wherever he wound up there were some kindly faces. And the family, somehow, managed not to hate (tho there were some strong dislikes). A story of quiet heroism!
June 21, 2025
A firsthand glimpse into the harsh realities of being labeled a “cow demon” or rightist during China’s political upheaval. The narrative captures the everyday struggles, imprisonment, and the toll on family life.
While at times repetitive and overly detailed, this likely reflects an attempt to fully document a unique and turbulent period.
Wu highlights the contradictions and ironies throughout his harrowing journey, but the memoir stops short of offering deeper reflections or broader insights. While I would have appreciated a more thoughtful retrospective on the overall experience, it remains an authentic and valuable historical account.
While at times repetitive and overly detailed, this likely reflects an attempt to fully document a unique and turbulent period.
Wu highlights the contradictions and ironies throughout his harrowing journey, but the memoir stops short of offering deeper reflections or broader insights. While I would have appreciated a more thoughtful retrospective on the overall experience, it remains an authentic and valuable historical account.
November 14, 2025
There are many personal accounts of life in China during the Cultural Revolution, the Great Leap Forward and other episodes during the Twentieth Century, but A Single Tear contains information I haven’t seen elsewhere. The suffering of Wu Ningkun and his wife is poignantly portrayed by them. His loyalty to freedom of speech, great literature and China are remarkable. Though the book gets bogged down in details at times, it’s a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Twentieth Century China, the importance of freedom of thought and the ability of individuals to persevere under adversity.
February 15, 2022
This is a very good book to have a first-person view of that huge disaster in China during the 1950s to 1970s.
What touches me most is that people become really harsh and insane in that 'red terror'. They set themselves in a class conflict, which turns out to be a farce.
I don't know if people at that time is truly believed in the Party and Mao, or they just need a channel to release their emotions and fanaticism.
What touches me most is that people become really harsh and insane in that 'red terror'. They set themselves in a class conflict, which turns out to be a farce.
I don't know if people at that time is truly believed in the Party and Mao, or they just need a channel to release their emotions and fanaticism.
May 22, 2022
My tears were not stoppable when reading this book. This book revealed the disaster that Chinese communist party has caused to humanity, its cruelty to its own people and the crime they committed during the cultural revolution. Today, such crimes are still going on in that piece of land.
Dr. Wu was misled by CCP to go back to China after receiving his doctorate degree in university of Chicago. Today, there are still people repeating this. Read this book, folks!
Dr. Wu was misled by CCP to go back to China after receiving his doctorate degree in university of Chicago. Today, there are still people repeating this. Read this book, folks!
October 3, 2025
It is so many years ago that I read this book however always kept one on my bookshelf until the white ants ate my last one out. It is a graphic personal review of persecution and endurance in China coming of age as a communist nation through a cultural revolution where academics were persecuted. It stands out to me as a test of love of country even when it is going crazy and love of language as it is written with almost poetic prose. So beautiful to read
October 13, 2019
I learned so much through the life stories of Wu and Li Yikai. Their story of survival is amazing, not just physical survival, but mental and spiritual survival, as well. They persevered even through the labor camps, through the forced thought control, through neighbors and colleagues informing and lying about them. It makes freedom not so abstract. It is an incredible story.
April 23, 2023
平心而论，巫老这本书的文笔比较一般，叙事技巧也相当贫乏，因此文学性算不上很高。至少中文版是如此。
即便如此，它的史料价值却是难以替代的。或许从这个角度而言，以上这些缺点反而变成了一个小小的优点了。
最让我印象深刻的一段描述是这样的：一个上大学时是运动员、毕业后搞中国古典文学的青年学者，和作者一起被下放到一个位于天津和唐山之间的劳改农场。在1961年的某天里，他给巫老递了“一张用他的优美的柳公权体写的字条：‘教授，我恳求您借给我一张烙饼。等内人从湖南来给我送食品，我保证一定加倍奉��。’”最后，作者亲自草草埋葬了他。这张借出的烙饼也没能还上。
我想，整整一代中国知识分子被打断脊梁的历史，就全部浓缩在这个小故事里了吧。
即便如此，它的史料价值却是难以替代的。或许从这个角度而言，以上这些缺点反而变成了一个小小的优点了。
最让我印象深刻的一段描述是这样的：一个上大学时是运动员、毕业后搞中国古典文学的青年学者，和作者一起被下放到一个位于天津和唐山之间的劳改农场。在1961年的某天里，他给巫老递了“一张用他的优美的柳公权体写的字条：‘教授，我恳求您借给我一张烙饼。等内人从湖南来给我送食品，我保证一定加倍奉��。’”最后，作者亲自草草埋葬了他。这张借出的烙饼也没能还上。
我想，整整一代中国知识分子被打断脊梁的历史，就全部浓缩在这个小故事里了吧。
January 8, 2026
作者的一腔报国热情，耗尽在接近三十年的政治运动中，真可谓九死一生，读来锥心泣血。巫老先生回国后最危险的时刻，莫过于被打成右派后在北大荒和清河农场劳改。正赶上大跃进造成的饥荒，若不是其亲属送来的高价黑市食物和其妻契而不舍的上访为他办保外就医，他很有可能和其他难友一样成为黄土一抔。文革十年，作者虽然身为“牛鬼蛇神”一员，被下放农村劳动，背负政治贱民身份，但最起码无生命之忧，这也给了他很好的机会去观察这场浩劫。他记录了下放女教师被工宣队代表强暴后自杀的惨案，也描述了生产队长吃拿卡要、欺上瞒下、作威作福的丑态，还提及表姐吴慎娴（也就是御医李志绥之妻）在文革中和他划清界限、见死不救。经历了三十年的苦难，他依然坚守忠恕之道，对迫害过他的人，并未直呼其名，在书中仅以姓氏代之。书中巫老先生夫人李怡楷的几章叙述，和巫老先生自己的回忆相互补充，更完整的呈现了整个家族的受难史，也提供了宝贵的史料。
November 23, 2021
A glimpse of history and the fate of intellectuals in modern China. Wu is lucky to have a wife who always loves and supports him. When he lost almost everything, he still has the supports from family, which saves him materially and spiritually.
September 25, 2021
從「思想改造」開始，三反五反、胡風案、肅反運動、大鳴大放、反右運動、三面紅旗、放衛星、打麻雀、反右傾、四清、文化大革命……51年回國，58年戴上右派帽子，64年「摘帽右派」，80年「錯劃右派」，新中國初期的政治運動基本上全經歷了一遍，能活下來真的命大。字字泣血的回憶，數次看得眼眶濕潤，如果說這是一滴淚，那也是一滴濃到化不開的血淚。共產黨的罪行簡直罄竹難書！
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2022
I read it 10 years ago.
February 27, 2023
Astonishing and poignant, can’t believe it’s a nonfiction
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