BEIJINGCHE GUPIT

Book Details

• Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

• Author: Jan Wong

• Translators: Mohan Gokhale

• Language: Marathi (Translated from English)

• Edition: 1st Edition

• Publishing Year: October 2016

• ISBN: 9789386175496

• Pages: 332

• Cover: Paperback

• Category: Biography & True Stories

About the Book

"Beijing Confidential" is an emotional and compelling journey of redemption, set against the backdrop of Beijing's transformation from communism to capitalism. In this memoir, Jan Wong, a former Maoist and one of only two Westerners allowed to study at Beijing University in the 1970s, embarks on a quest to right the wrongs of her past.

In 1973, Wong, then a young and idealistic student, had betrayed a Chinese student, Yin Luoyi, by reporting her to the authorities after Yin asked for help in getting to the United States. In the midst of the Cultural Revolution, this act led to Yin's disgrace, and the guilt haunted Wong for decades. Now, over thirty years later, Wong returns to Beijing with one mission: to find Yin and apologize for ruining her life.

As she retraces her steps through the now rapidly modernizing city, Wong reflects on the profound changes in both herself and Beijing. The vibrant city of her youth, once filled with slogans of "Long Live Chairman Mao," is now home to towering skyscrapers, sleek condos, and consumer-driven businesses. In her journey to find Yin, Wong reconnects with old friends and acquaintances, uncovering revealing insights into the life of the woman she wronged.

As Wong delves deeper into the mystery, she learns that Yin's life journey has been as transformative as the city itself—moving from disgrace to respectability. "Beijing Confidential" weaves together the stories of Wong's remorse and search for redemption, Yin's resilience, and Beijing's dramatic metamorphosis, offering a poignant exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of the Cultural Revolution.