"Western Tide" is Jiang Menglin's autobiographical work, which covers almost all major historical events in China from 1842 to 1941. Half of the paragraph is what the author "heard" personally, and the second half is what the author "experienced" personally. The author took advantage of his "leisure" to hide from air raids during the Anti-Japanese War, and wrote such an "autobiography" in an empty space without lights, tables and chairs, using the pencil and hard-sided notebook he carried with him. This book is regarded by the author as "a bit like an autobiography, a bit like a memoir, and a bit like modern history." It not only contains the author's perspective on society and life, but also reflects the fierce turbulence of the entire society under the collision of Chinese and Western cultures.
After the English version was published, it received widespread attention and was designated as an important reference book by the Far Eastern Institute of Harvard University. Later, Jiang Menglin translated the book into Chinese. When it was published in Taiwan, almost every young person in Taiwan had a copy of it, and it was regarded as a "life textbook."
Reader comments
The book "Western Tide" is very real. Mr. Jiang Menglin wrote everything he saw, heard and felt, which made me feel the turmoil and changes of that era. His evaluation of the characters' behaviors was also very objective, which gave me a more comprehensive understanding of historical figures. This book is not only an autobiography, but also a microcosm of China's modern history, which is very helpful for understanding that era. I think everyone should read it, there will be a lot to gain.
The book "Western Tide" is very real. Mr. Jiang Menglin wrote everything he saw, heard and felt, which made me feel the turmoil and changes of that era. His evaluation of the characters' behaviors was also very objective, which gave me a more comprehensive understanding of historical figures. This book is not only an autobiography, but also a microcosm of China's modern history, which is very helpful for understanding that era. I think everyone should read it, there will be a lot to gain.