Stateless in Shanghai

by Liliane Willens

Born in Shanghai to Russian Jewish parents who fled the Bolshevik Revolution, Liliane Willens is a "stateless" girl in the world's most cosmopolitan city. But when the Far East explodes in conflict, the family's uncertain status puts them at risk of being stranded, or worse. Stateless in Shanghai recounts Willens' life and trials in a China collapsing under the weight of foreign invaders and civil war.

Genres: China, Nonfiction, Memoir

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique story told by a remarkable woman. Dr. Willens is the daughter of Jews who fled to Shanghai from Russia and the Ukraine around the time of the Revolution. The family lived in the enclave set aside for foreign concessions. French, Germans, Russians, Americans, Jews, Christians -- an international potpourri. She tells her story of loving and then leaving Shanghai in a clear and forthright tone with a touch of mischief.

I met the author last month. She is just as feisty in person as she is on the page.

[Sergey Grechishkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straightforward account of life in extraordinary circumstances. A must-read for everyone interested in Shanghailand.

[Jaap Grolleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Stateless in Shanghai’ is a very detailed description of a mundane life in extraordinary times. And I’m glad Liliane Willens doesn’t try to add any grandness to the story, as the situation doesn’t need it. Willens describes her growing up in Shanghai’s International Settlement in the 1930s & 40s, as a child in a wealthy caucasian family. While from Russian heritage and Jewish faith, she goes to French school, meets British and American people, and witnesses the invasion of Japanese soldiers, the liberation by the Allied troops, and later the coming of the Communists.

The book will satisfy those highly interested in Shanghai, and it’s a rare perspective of Communist-Shanghai, post-1949, as not many foreigners remained in Shanghai at that time, let alone those who wrote about it.

And yet I felt so much aversion while reading this. Partly this comes from the time: privileged colonialists living amid so much misery piled on Chinese shoulders. While the foreigners complain of having no hot bathwater, the Chinese are dying out of their suburb from cholera, hunger or cold. And my aversion comes partly from Willens herself, who is just an annoying person, spoiled to the bone. She acknowledges her privilege at times but fails to act on it. She still looks down on Chinese citizens, and certainly does not regard them as equals. Yes, she describes her growing up and the way she saw it — but 45 years after she had left China, she could have outgrown the modus operandi in which she grew up. Also, she spoke to hundreds of American and British soldiers, yet shares none of their stories as she remains so full of herself. While it's more lively and personal than a history book, it all does make a sluggish 300-page read.

[Philip S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a great insight into life in Shanghai from the 1920s to the first few years of the PRC in the early 1950s. The story is strongly anchored around the life of the author but also provides great 'first hand' insight into the tumultuous and complex developments in and around Shanghai during that time. The author's position as a privileged 'foreigner' gives an 'interesting' perspective, to say the least. The author is, however, well aware of and does not refrain from addressing the discrimination and racial prejudices that were so prevalent at the time. Four stars because the book can sometimes be a bit tedious and could have benefited from more editing.

[Caroline Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful first-person account of growing up in Shanghai during the time of the foreign concessions and the first few years of communist rule. The author, whose Jewish parents had fled Russia and settled in China, expertly weaves colorful and unique details of daily life with historical background. I found the last part covering her departure for Hong Kong and her year in Japan before the book ends with her departure for the United States less engrossing. A must read for anyone interested in Shanghai during the 1930-40s.

[Lera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic account of unusual life by an outstanding Shanghailander. I got both the kindle and the audiobook and enjoyed Liliane’s sprinklings of Shanghainese and Russian. Getting to chat with her on zoom at book club was a very special treat for all of us who call Shanghai home right now

[dennis askeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a nice biography about lilliane and her interesting family.

[Lona Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think reading history through the experiences of one family is more engaging than a straight-up history book. Stateless in Shanghai relates the experience of a family of Jewish Russian emigres who enjoyed a luxurious ex-pat life in Shanghai until the Japanese marched in, followed by the equally dire Communists. Packed with period detail.

[Matthew Glazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, interesting description of a lot of the changes that Shanghai went through during the 20's to 50's. Sometimes it was a little slow or the descriptions were hard to follow, but that is representative of an individual's life experience, especially over the course of many years.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book gets off to a slow start, by the time the author has grown up a bit and begins to write about the political/historical issues of the day, it becomes very interesting. It also helped clear up some questions I had about foreigners in Shanghai during WWII. A good read.

[Pip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving account of the rise and fall of life in Shanghai for foreigners up to and after the founding of new China.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is much more engrossing because I leave in Shanghai and am leaving in the very neighborhood that the author had lived in. The writing can be a bit slow at times, but is filled with great historical details and context!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating:
All the more so because of the information about life in Shanghai after the war when there were so few foreigners left. I did find some of it jumped around a little and the historical detail was very thorough, when I was more interested in the human responses to what was happening, but I guess the detail was needed in order that the reader understood what was going on. Certainly a must read for anyone living in or familiar with Shanghai today.

[Karen Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting, first hand account of a family’s survival in Shanghai. The book covers the period between the world wars, during the Japanese war with China and the occupation, World War II, and the Communist takeover of China and subsequent escape of all non-Chinese. Ms. Willen’s sometimes harrowing tales are punctuated with vivid personal anecdotes. She describes her evolution from a pampered girl to a more mature, thoughtful young woman.