What better way to learn about Chinese women than straight from the source? This collection of 25 essays delves deep into the female soul, both past and present with each essayist offering her viewpoint on life’s vicissitudes.
Subjects include life during the "cultural revolution"; love (which according to Dai Houying is a topic best treated in a light-hearted manner, if treated at all); and literature (acclaimed Shanghainese writer Eileen Chang pays tribute to fellow writer Su Qing). Other essays tackle the generation gap (Tie Ning on her mother’s behavior), and relationships with partners or family (Zu Lin’s offers a touching account of her search for her mother in "Blue Phantom").
In addition to the often poignant, always revealing, essays, this volume includes short biographies of all the contributors for those readers who wish to further explore the works of a particular author.

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
Book courtesy Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House
July 2005 issue