Remembering Shanghai

A Memoir of Socialites, Scholars and Scoundrels

By: Isabel Sun Chao, Claire Chao

Narrated by: Rachel Yong, Claire Chao, Isabel Sun Chao

Winner of 26 book awards, including the 2019 Rubery Award for Book of the Year

Audiobook narrated by two-time Asian American Film Lab best actress winner Rachel Yong and authors Isabel Sun Chao and Claire Chao.

“Jaw-dropping, exciting, touching, tragic and insightful.” (Historic Shanghai)

True stories of glamor, drama, and tragedy told through five generations of a Shanghai family, from the last days of imperial rule to the Cultural Revolution

A high position bestowed by China’s empress dowager grants power and wealth to the Sun family. For Isabel, growing up in glamorous 1930s and ’40s Shanghai, it is a life of utmost privilege. But while her scholar father and fashionable mother shelter her from civil war and Japanese occupation, they cannot shield the family forever.

When Mao comes to power, 18-year-old Isabel journeys to Hong Kong, not realizing that she will make it her home - and that she will never see her father again. Meanwhile, the family she has left behind struggles to survive, only to have their world shattered by the Cultural Revolution. Isabel returns to Shanghai 50 years later with her daughter, Claire, to confront their family’s past - one they discover is filled with love and betrayal, kidnappers and concubines, glittering pleasure palaces and underworld crime bosses.

Meticulously researched, Remembering Shanghai follows five generations, from vibrant Shanghai to the bright lights of Hong Kong. By turns harrowing and heartwarming, this vivid memoir explores identity and loss against the epic backdrop of a country in turmoil.

rememberingshanghai.com

©2018 Claire Chao/Plum Brook, LLC (P)2020 Claire Chao/Plum Brook, LLC

Critic reviews

"A volume that demands to be held." (Los Angeles Review of Books)

“An engaging and entertaining saga.” (South China Morning Post)

Loved this book!

Having lived in Shanghai 2011-2018, this book shed so much light on the city, the culture, the inhabitants, and China as a whole. Very well written and produced!!

Powerful family history with outstanding narration

This is a nuanced and engaging memoir of the historical continuities and changes in modern China, built on firsthand experience, meticulous research, and outstanding narration which is expressive and clear. The care that went into the audio production really stands out and I truly appreciated hearing the Chinese terms pronounced fluently (unlike so many audiobooks about Asia where narrators painfully mangle standard names, places, and terms). This fascinating account covers life in the late imperial period through to the present, with special attention to the experience of girls and women. It’s well written with continuous surprises along the way. Highly recommended.

Like a flowering vine, it sends out blossoms unexpectedly

This memoir is remarkably moving as it astutely weaves the story of an old and sometimes disreputable family, and how the sins of each generation create crucibles of learning for the subsequent generation. The authors deftly interlaced sentiment and irony, horror and wonder as Shanghai goes through its convulsive changes. Highly recommended.

touching stories of resilience and family

moving stories from a tragic time, fate of family and country intertwined. the upbeat nature of the stories makes the tragedies inspiring while at the same time being heavy. wish China can remember her past and strive to give humanity to everyone

Takes you to another time

It’s almost like you time travel! I can’t recommend this book enough! It needs to be a TV series.

Excellent Personal Family History

I loved this personal story and appreciated the historical backdrop of good times and upheaval. Thank you for sharing your family with us.
I was happy to hear your grandfather’s jade seal was found after all those years of loss. I cried when I heard Isabel’s voice speaking of her dream about her father. I was invested in this intimate familial portrayal.

Beautiful and personal

A beautiful and person insight into a family who teach us so much about the trials of China. I felt so sad when it ended - like I will miss them all. The narrator makes it lively and fun - a joy to listen to. Thank you

An intriguing and fascinating family History

This book was truly captivating. I enjoyed so much how the authors intertwined their family history with events that happened during that time. This is the very reason I love to read autobiographies.

It enlightened me to a place and slice of history I had never read about before. It kept my interest all the way through.

The narration was very good as well.

A Gemstone

This is the 6th memoirs penned by overseas Chinese (among them are the acclaimed titles such as Wild Swans & Life and Death in Shanghai) I read in recent months after I took an interest in learning more about China’s tumultuous contemporary history.

I’d wish the book be a bit longer with could be more richness to the stories. The audiobook production, however, is fabulous, and I enjoyed it immensely.