Synopses & Reviews
At the twilight of the nineteenth century, China sent a detachment of boys to America in order to learn the ways of the West, modernize the antiquated empire, and defend it from foreigners invading its shores. After spending a decade in New England's finest schools, the boys re-turned home, driven by a pioneering spirit of progress and reform. Their lives in America influenced not only their thinking but also their nation's endeavor to become a contemporary world power, an endeavor that resonates powerfully today. Drawing on diaries, letters, and other first-person accounts, Fortunate Sons tells a remarkable tale, weaving together the dramas of personal lives with the momentous thrust of a nation reborn. Shedding light on a crucial yet largely unknown period in China's history, Fortunate Sons provides insight into the issues concerning that nation today, from its struggle toward economic supremacy to its fraught relationship with the United States.
Review
"Highly readable." William Wong
Review
"A useful reminder of how long exchanges between our two countries have been under way, and of the risks and rewards that these connections have brought to both sides." San Francisco Chronicle
Review
"Starred Review. With its surging storyline, extraordinary events, and depth of character, this gripping tale . . . reads . . . like a novel." Deborah Fallows New York Times
Synopsis
In 1872, China--ravaged by poverty, population growth, and aggressive European armies--sent 120 boys to America to learn the secrets of Western innovation. They studied at New England's finest schools and were driven by a desire for progress and reform. When anti-Chinese fervor forced them back home, the young men had to overcome a suspicious imperial court and a country deeply resistant to change in technology and culture. tells a remarkable story, weaving together the dramas of personal lives with the fascinating tale of a nation's endeavor to become a world power.
Synopsis
"Thoroughly enjoyable . . . an outstanding tale of cross-cultural fertilization." --
About the Author
Liel Leibovitz is a senior writer for Tablet magazine and teaches at New York University. He is the coauthor of Fortunate Sons, Lili Marlene, and The Chosen Peoples. He lives in New York City.Matthew Milleris the co-author of Lili Marlene: The Soldiers' Song of World War II. He lives in New York.