Iris chang s harrowing experience and dogged determination uncovers in graphic detail the forgotten holocaust of world war ii when almost 300,000. Because of chang s book, the second rape of nanking is ending. Iris chang s purpose of writing the rape of nanking the forgotten holocaust of world war ii is to redress the injustice of having one of the worst war atrocities ever committed recently to be forgotten by people outside china. Iris chang, a journalist whose bestselling book, the rape of nanking, a chronicle of the atrocities committed in that city by occupying japanese forces, helped break a sixdecadelong. Meticulous, comprehensive, and unflinching, it is a painful and utterly necessary exploration of both history and humankind. The rape of nanking by iris chang by jessica schneider the rape of nanking is a wellwritten account of what happened in nanking in 1937 when the. The forgotten holocaust of world war ii, was published in 1997, it became an instant bestseller, generated international attention and reignited debate. Iris chang, whose own grandparents were survivors, recounts the grisly massacre with understandable outrage. 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. Iris chang talked about her book, the rape of nanking.
Iris chang, the bestselling author of the rape of nanking and one of the nations leading young historians and a human rights activist who became a role model for young american students of. The first edition of the novel was published in 1997, and was written by iris chang. The rape of nanking by iris chang book club discussion. The nanking massacre and iris changs book the rape of. The forgotten holocaust of world war ii by iris chang. The rape of nanking 1997 by iris chang penguin paperback. The rape of nanking study guide contains a biography of iris chang, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Jordan petersons ideas about group aggression and the slippery slope of reinforced biases. Around 300,000 people were murdered in some of the most terrible ways, tortured and raped. 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.
The new york times bestselling account of one of historys most brutal and forgotten massacres, when the japanese army destroyed chinas capital city on the eve of world war ii in december 1937, one of the most horrific atrocities in the long annals of wartime. Iris chang s work chronicling the horrors of the rape of nanking is overwhelming. But apparently sales of the rape of nanking have been fueled by a demand in chinese communities on both coasts. Free download or read online the rape of nanking pdf epub book. The rape of nanking tells the story from three perspectives. Within weeks, more than 300,000 chinese civilians were systematically raped, tortured, and murdereda death toll exceeding that of the atomic blasts of hiroshima and nagasaki combined. Many authors have enlightened humanity to the futile brutality of war, but iris chang wrote this book to expose a fearsome history of despicable human cruelty and debasement. I almost couldnt get through it all, considering just how graphic and detailed it is.
It may seem improbable that an account of a sixtyyearold atrocity has been on the bestseller lists for weeks. Jane kivik free download or read online the rape of nanking pdf epub book. The rape of nanking quotes by iris chang goodreads. Binstock, author of tree of heaven compelling and historically truthful. Subtitled the forgotten holocaust of world war ii, the book chronicles the 1937 nanking massacre, during which the imperial japanese army, over a sixweek period, killed between 260,000 and 400,000 chinese noncombatants and raped. As the subtitle of the book makes clear, while the atrocities committed during the holocaust by the nazis have been thoroughly and voluminously studied the same attention to detail and extensive scholarship has not been expended on the monthslong atrocities at. Iris shunru chang march 28, 1968 november 9, 2004 was an american journalist, author of historical books and political activist. It is a fearsome historical account of the suffering chinese and the behaviour of japanese soldiers during world war 2. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 290 pages and is available in paperback format. In december 1937, in the capital of china, one of the most brutal massacres in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred.
Most people know about the infamous holocaust in europe during the second world war. The japanese army swept into the ancient city of nanking and within weeks not only looted and burned the defenseless city but sy. Throughout the rape of nanking, iris chang emphasizes that by not remembering the past, we become victims of it. This week we will be discussing iris chang s book the rape of nanking, which covers japans invasion of the chinese city nanking during world war 2. The rape of nanking by iris chang this book is possibly the most traumatizing book i have ever read. The rape of nanking did not penetrate the world consciousness in the same manner as the holocaust or hiroshima because the victims themselves had remained silent. If the japanese government doesnt reckon with the crimes of its wartime leaders, history. She is best known for her bestselling 1997 account of the nanking massacre, the rape of nanking. The japanese army swept into the ancient city of nanking what was then the capital of china, and within. Pdf the rape of nanking book by iris chang free download. The forgotten holocaust of world war ii by iris chang follows the progression of japanese soldiers from shanghai to nanking during world war ii and gives account of the horrible atrocities committed by the japanese military at nanking.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Killing 20 civilians andor pows, much less thousands or hundreds of thousands, is a war crime. I just finished reading the rape of nanking by iris chang. This book really opened my eyes to the violence a group of humans is capable of when other humans are degraded as inherently lesser than they. About a young chineseamerican authors journey into the darkest reaches of humanity as she researched and wrote her best selling book the rape of nanking. But not many people outside china know about the barbaric atrocities committed by. The forgotten holocaust of world war ii paperback january 10, 2012. When you need to find the rape of nanking, what would you do first.
In december 1937, the japanese army swept into the ancient city of nanking. The rape of nanking by iris chang is a shocking book, containing details of the most horrific atrocities imaginable, committed by the japanese army during a short period in 193738 after they captured the chinese capital nanking. Iris chang the rape of nanking books bevry discuss. Iris changs suicide stunned those she tried so hard to. Discussion thread for jordan b petersons recommendation of iris chang s the rape of nanking.
I want the rape of nanking to penetrate into public consciousness. Before we discuss this matter, one thing must be made clear. The main characters of this war, history story are. Probably, you would go to the library or a bookstore. The rape of nanking is only one of the horrendous atrocities committed by the japanese during ww2. In the rape of nanking iris chang deconstructs the. Iris chang s groundbreaking work, the rape of nanking is widely credited with publicizing the world war ii atrocity that many in japan continue to deny or belittle as exaggeration. The rape of nanking, the forgotten holocaust of world war. The claim that the japanese army killed 300,000 people in nanking, china, in 1937 became widely accepted with the publication of chinese author iris chang s book the rape of nanking. The forgotten holocaust of world war ii is a bestselling 1997 nonfiction book written by iris chang about the 19371938 nanking massacre, the massacre and atrocities.
The book gives an account of the massacre and atrocities that the japanese army committed against the chinese in nanking nanjing between 1937 and 1938. The book documents the atrocities visited upon the people of nanking by the. Using extensive interviews with survivors and newly discovered documents, iris chang has written what will surely be the definitive. In december 1937, in what was then the capital of china, one of the most brutal massacres in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. Unless we truly understand how these atrocities can happen, we cant be certain that it wont happen again. 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. The forgotten holocaust of world war ii is a bestselling 1997 nonfiction book written by iris chang about the 19371938 nanking massacre, the massacre and atrocities committed by the imperial japanese army after it captured nanjing, then capital of china, during the second sinojapanese war. The rape of nanking is a historical nonfiction book published in 1997 by american author and journalist iris chang.
Iris chang in december 1937, the japanese army swept into the ancient city of nanking. Ross terrill, author of mao, china in our time, and madame mao anyone interested in the relation between war, selfrighteousness, and the human spirit will find the rape of nanking of fundamental importance. Chang s wellintentioned attempt to secure a japanese apology for the nanking atrocities is meaningless because many of the perpetrators and. I personally suffered in a pow camp with 85% death rate. The rape of nanking, iris chang has at last given voice to one of the worlds profound tragedies. Within weeks, more than 300,000 chinese civilians and soldiers were systematically raped, tortured, and murdereda death toll exceeding that of the atomic blasts of hiroshima and nagasaki combined. The late iris chang hoped that her work the rape of nanking would lead to an official japanese apology for the atrocities japanese troops committed in nanking in 1937.
It describes the events leading up to the nanking massacre and the atrocities that were committed. Iris chang has done a great service for the western world. The japanese army swept into the ancient city of nanking nanjing and within weeks not only looted and burned the. After taking nanking now nanjing, the nationalist capital of china, on december, 1937, the japanese subjected the city to an orgy of murder, pillage, arson and rape. The new york times bestselling account of one of historys most brutal and forgotten massacres, when the japanese army destroyed chinas capital city on the eve of world war ii in december 1937, one of the most horrific atrocities in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. The first option takes a lot of time, and it is not very convenient because not all books can be taken home.