The Rape of Nanking

By: Iris Chang

Narrated by: Anna Fields

In December 1937, in the capital of China, one of the most brutal massacres in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. The Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking and within weeks not only looted and burned the defenseless city but systematically raped, tortured and murdered more than 300,000 Chinese civilians. Amazingly, the story of this atrocity- one of the worst in world history- continues to be denied by the Japanese government.

The Rape of Nanking tells the story from three perspectives: that of the Japanese soldiers who performed it; of the Chinese civilians who endured it; and finally of a group of Europeans and Americans who refused to abandon the city and were able to create a safety zone that saved almost 300,000 Chinese. It was Iris Chang who discovered the diaries of the German leader of this rescue effort, John Rabe, whom she calls the "Oskar Schindler of China." A loyal supporter of Adolf Hitler, but far from the terror planned in his Nazi-controlled homeland, he worked tirelessly to save the innocent from slaughter.

©1997 Iris Chang (P)1997 Blackstone Audiobooks

A Story that needed telling!

I've heard the term much of my life. I lived through WWII and never got the details on what the "Rape of Nanking" meant. This was a story I needed to hear. The Japanese culture needs correcting....but only exposes like this will let the current generation know what thier forebears did.......

Difficult

It's obvious that this text was a very terrible labor of love for the author and also perhaps a cathartic exercise into a dark corner of our humanity. The author pulls no punches in her account yet there is no appearance of over indulgence. Well researched, the lessons of the story stand on their own...sobering, difficult, poignant and necessary.

the darkest depths of humanity

the Jungian shadow is demonstrated quite well from a psychological perspective in this book. and a well structured narrative.
I'd class this book as mandatory history for every breathing soul alive.

Jolting

The book is fantastically written in a style rarely seen but perfectly fitting. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the human mind, human culture, and even basic history. I had to take breaks from the book after hearing some of the most atrocious stories I’ve ever heard. During those breaks I felt forced to do outside research to verify what I had heard, I was in such disbelief.
Highly recommended to anyone of an appropriate age.

Even-handed presentation of forgotton history

Was surprised that a historical account, even with description of horrendous acts of war, was so mezmerizing. Finished quickly. Will be reading more on this part of history