Life and death in Shanghai

Published by Penguin Books in 1988, *Life and death in Shanghai* is an important biography and personal narrative written by Nien Cheng, who was born in 1915. This work provides an account of the author's experiences as a female political prisoner in China during a significant period of Chinese history. Originally published in New York by Grove Press in 1986, this 1988 edition by Penguin Books offers readers an essential, fully indexed volume documenting the realities of political imprisonment and personal survival. It stands as a vital historical resource and a personal biography.

The book serves as a historical and biographical record of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, specifically focusing on the years between 1966 and 1969, as well as the broader Cultural Revolution era from 1966 to 1976. Through Cheng’s personal narrative, readers gain insights into the lives of political prisoners, particularly women in China, during this era of social and political history. As a historical document, *Life and death in Shanghai* captures the intersection of individual biography and national history. The inclusion of an index ensures that readers can easily navigate the specific events, names, and historical details documented throughout Cheng's personal account.

For libraries and readers seeking biographies and personal narratives of twentieth-century China, this Penguin Books reprint remains a key text. It captures the voice of a female political prisoner, providing an account of the history of China during the late 1960s. Nien Cheng's narrative stands as a documented biography of a woman in China during a complex political era.