Product Description

In December 1937, the Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking. Within weeks, more than 300,000 Chinese civilians were systematically raped, tortured, and murdered--a death toll exceeding that of the atomic blasts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. Using extensive interviews with survivors and newly discovered documents, Iris Chang has written what will surely be the definitive history of this horrifying episode. The Rape of Nanking tells the story from three perspectives: of the Japanese soldiers who performed it, of the Chinese civilians who endured it, and 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. Among these was the Nazi John Rabe, an unlikely hero whom Chang calls the "Oskar Schindler of China" and who worked tirelessly to protect the innocent and publicize the horror. More than just narrating the details of an orgy of violence, The Rape of Nanking analyzes the militaristic culture that fostered in the Japanese soldiers a total disregard for human life. Finally, it tells the appalling story: about how the advent of the Cold War led to a concerted effort on the part of the West and even the Chinese to stifle open discussion of this atrocity. Indeed, Chang characterizes this conspiracy of silence, that persists to this day, as "a second rape."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16535 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 328 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780140277449
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
China has endured much hardship in its history, as Iris Chang shows in her ably researched The Rape of Nanking, a book that recounts the horrible events in that eastern Chinese city under Japanese occupation in the late 1930s. Nanking, she writes, served as a kind of laboratory in which Japanese soldiers were taught to slaughter unarmed, unresisting civilians, as they would later do throughout Asia. Likening their victims to insects and animals, the Japanese commanders orchestrated a campaign in which several hundred thousand--no one is sure just how many--Chinese soldiers and noncombatants alike were killed. Chang turns up an unlikely hero in German businessman John Rabe, a devoted member of the Nazi party who importuned Adolf Hitler to intervene and stop the slaughter, and who personally saved the lives of countless residents of Nanking. She also suggests that the Japanese government pay reparations and apologize for its army's horrific acts of 60 years ago.

From School Library Journal
YA?The events in this book are horribly off-putting, which, paradoxically, is why they must be remembered. Chang tells of the Sino-Japanese War atrocities perpetrated by the invading Japanese army in Nanking in December 1937, in which roughly 350,000 soldiers and civilians were slaughtered in an eight-week period, many of them having been raped and/or tortured first. Not only are readers given many of the gory details?with pictures?but they are also told of the heroism of some members of a small foreign contingent, particularly of a Nazi businessman who resided in China for 30 years. The story of his bravery lends the ironic touch of someone with evil credentials doing good. Once the author finishes with the atrocities, she proceeds with the equally absorbing and much easier-to-take story of what happened to the Nazi businessman when he returned to Germany and the war ended. This by itself is material for a movie. The author tells why the Japanese government not only allowed the atrocities to occur but also refused, and continues to refuse, to acknowledge that they happened. She is quite evenhanded in reminding readers that every culture has some episode like this in its history; what makes this one important is the number of people killed and tortured, the sadism, and the ongoing Japanese denial of responsibility. Mature readers will look beyond the sensational acts of cruelty to ponder the horror of man's inhumanity to man and the examples of heroism in the midst of savagery.?Judy McAloon, Potomac Library, Prince William County, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
When Japan occupied China in 1937, its army subjected NankingAthen China's capitalAto brutalities on a scale matched only by Nazi Germany's treatment of European Jews. Precise figures are unobtainable, but in only a few weeks, the Japanese appear to have killed 300,000 civiliansAmany in ways too unspeakable to describe. However, despite the scale of these atrocities, the event has been virtually unknown to the outside world. This book will go a long way toward correcting that deficiency. Drawing on long-neglected documentation and interviews with Nanking survivors, Chang (Thread of the Silkworm) has written a forceful narrative that not only reconstructs the grisly events in detail but analyzes Japan's reluctance to admit its responsibility. Many library patrons will prefer to listen to Blackstone's unabridged recording, while others may wish to limit their descent into hell to this three-hour abridgment, which, with Barbara Rosenblatt's strong reading, delivers the full message.AKent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A great author gives back the truth to the history
I read the book and was greatly shocked and moved by the author's nice work. But very sadly to hear that she passed by a few days ago. May her stay in peace forever in the heaven.

First, I would like to emphasize that the slaughter in Nanjing is a unforgivable, unforgetable, actual history for everyone who have justice. I am from Nanjing which is a city bear a tragic history. When I was in the high school, I took part in an activity which was to search for the witness of slaughter in Nanjing. When those old people shows their scar to us, telling the true story of themselves, almost all of us felt a kind of heartquake. We took some pictures and recorded the words of those old people. When they recalled the memory of those sad periods, they can't bear their angrys and pains. Maybe some of them have already passed by, but every evidences have been saved. If anyone is interested in these first hand material, you can visit the Nanjing in China. There is a memorial museum in Nanjing. You will find out the truth of history there by yourself.

Secondly, I am also greaty scared by some reviewer's irresponsible words here. I am not to blame them. But I wish they can bravely face the truth of history, face the crime of their ancestors,and correct them bravely.

Thirdly, the world is becoming more dangers today. There are more and more weapons build out every year. The earth already can be destory for thouands of times. I love peace, you must love peace too. So we must to settle the conflicts among countries and people by civilized methods. It is a responsiblity for all of us, no matter where you are from and who you are.

Finally, Only people can save people.

Good Book, and Chinese people should not forget
I am buying this book to make sure my next generations will never forget such atrocities done to the Chinese people. Forgive is one thing, but make sure the truth is being told is also important. I don't understand why many Japanese people just don't want to admit the war crimes done by their ancestors in the past. Compare to the Germans, some Japanese people just earn me nothing but disrespect. However, I also met Japanese people who are honest about the issue. I have great respect to them. I don't believe all Japanese people are bad, but some of them are just morons.

A truthful account , great book
This book provides the truth that happened duing World War II. Cannot believe japanese goverment still try to deny the atrocities they made to the other Asian contries. japanese goverment even juggle the textbook and deny this massacre to their next generation. In this forum, some japanese even jump out and try to deny the facts. If you want to know who is lying, just do some research if you can. There are many evidences in China can give you the truth.