Soong Dynasty

I am too young to remember the hegira of the Kuomintang, but I've heard the story in one form or another all my life. I've met people on both sides who have vastly different views of the events and personalities of the time. One thing that is clear, though, and that is that Stillwell hated Chiang, which is expained in lucid detail in Tuchman's  Stillwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45 . Seagrave takes the same view, namely that Chiang was a gangster who got to the top at a time when China was in chaos.Chiang's hagiography, as touted by the Mandarins in Taiwan is an example of the amazing curative powers of propaganda. (That is why you should turn off CNN if you want to be able to think.)This book is not just about Chiang, but about the Soong's, the family he married into. The story of Madame Chiang growing up as a young girl in Georgia, and learning to speak English with a southern accent is fascinating. The Soongs were bicultural and bilingual. They were also fantastically wealthy, and that combination helped them find their way to the top in the USA. Mrs. Chiang had unprecedented access to FDR during the time that the US was helping the Chinese fight Japan. The Chiangs used that access to extort huge sums of money from the Americans and they used it to enrich themselves while letting Mao and Cho carry the war.Madame Chiang's sister was married to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, about whom Seagrave has little good to say, but who has been considered the father of the republican revolution in China. Whether he was or not is a question that Seagrave discusses at length in the book.Another great book about Chinese history from a man who has spent much of his life in Asia. A great read.

I just finished it. I also bought and read Jung Chang’s: Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister. It is interesting, but I don’t think it’s her best work. I liked Seagrave’s “Soong Dynasty “ better I think because she fled China as a young woman under Mao that she comes off as glossing over how much wealth the Soong clan stole from China. Seagrave really puts it to them flat out calling them crooks and thugs. So I figure that somewhere in the middle, probably closer to Seagrave, the reality must lie.

This is a very long and detailed history of China from about 1880 to the 1960‘s. It gives a full biography of Charlie Soong, the founder of a powerful family which included his son-in-law Chiang Kai-Shek.This book details Chiang's cruelty. When his sister-in-law begged for the life of a friend and political associate, he let her plead for an hour before telling her that the man had already been put to death. Some of Chiang's prisoners were garrotted by an executioner who was skilled at prolonging death for half an hour.The American public was not allowed to know what kind of monster they were supporting with money and arms. The publisher Henry Luce, for instance, dedicated his magazine to lavish and incessant praise of Chiang and his wife.Mme. Chiang's ambition had no limits. She was a monstrous woman who did not deserve to live as long as she did. She died in the Waldorf-Astoria where she occupied several floors.A truly sickening history, when Japan occupied much of China during the thirties and Chiang and his wife battled the Chinese communists instead of the foreign invaders of their country. History is told in a smooth and readable fashion by this author.

I enjoyed “The Soong Dynasty” very much. Informative and entertaining at the same time. The network of people and events is laid out well, and it is based on extensive research. Very impressive. One of my favorite history books. Personally, it makes me want to spit on the grave of CKS, such an evil rat (I refuse to call him human.)

...about the powerful Soong family. It's so easy to fall under the spell of this seemingly untouchable family who appeared to have it all--wealth, power, education, etc.--but we are reminded of the shady dealings and deeds that catapulted the family to its near-invincible status and its iconic place in world history.If this book sparks your interest, definitely try out an even better read--George Kerr's Formosa Betrayed. Kerr's book focuses on the early history of the Taiwan-China conflict: the turnover from Japanese Imperial rule, the subsequent and tumultuous Nationalist/KMT government, the 2-28 Incident and March Massacre, and the U.S.'s part throughout it all. Kerr's book is all-encompassing, but as regards the Soongs, it reminds you that beneath the glamour and wealth of people like the Soongs was the unscrupulous trading that bankrupted millions while feeding personal family fortunes. (Specifically look for allusions to T.V. Soong's influence on the then-impending economic collapse of Taiwan, and you'll never again be dazzled by the Soongs' bright lights and propaganda show.) Read it, not because you dare, but because you CAN.

I bought this book in hardcover when it was published. I felt at that time it was the best book I ever read. It was finally available as an E book.It is a History book but reads like a novel. I hated for it to end and I will have trouble finding another book as interesting as this.

I bought the kindle version of this book. I wish that the descrirption had indicated that the kindle version of the book did not contain any of the illustrations that were in the original edition (if the NYT review I read is correct, there should be peraps 20 or 30 pages of illustrations. The price was good, but it is unfortunate htat thte kindle edition descriptions are not terribly clear about what is NOT available in that particular edition. I'm very disappointed, but hesitate to go ahead and buy another version in order to get the illustrations, since none of the descriptions I have seen so far on Amazon indicate either the presence or the absence of illustrations.

This examination of a powerful family is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the China of today. It is a meticulously researched history of a crucial family that pushed the development of China and its relationship to the USA and the world. Fascinating people. Intriguing glimpses into events you thought you understood. Best of all, a gifted writer who can keep you turning the pages!

The history of Formosa / Taiwan and the Kuomintang is not properly understood in america.I am very impressed with Mr. Seagrave's writing - he is clear and concise, just the way I like my authors.I was fascinated to learn how the Kuomintang government was created and evolved into the isolated entity off the china coast - at one time the KMT was the primary force that stood against the japanese invader, but it was revealed to be a corrupt, cyncial gangster dictatorship, and naturally the US government picked the KMT to support against the communists. Another tremendous failure of american foreign policy.Many thanks to Mr. Seagrave for an informative and enlightening history book.

I was a child of the war and was familiar with the name of Chiang Kai Shek who was, from the propaganda of the time considered to be anhonest and revered figure. How far from the truth as revealed by Sterling Seagrave. So much corruption and double-dealing went on that it is astounding - no wonder that the Chinese people turned to the communists!

Amazing that the west was so taken in by the Chinese. The missionaries should have been more involved as they could have shed a lot of light on the why's and the wherefores . I found the book very informative.

For anyone that appreciates collecting and in this case reading I purchased this book as I have a fascination with both Chinese and a Japanese culture. The term dynasty always conveys for me success in some way good or bad. The ladies mentioned in this book could be best described as formidable and no less interesting for it. China like so many countries has gone through so many changes politically, economically etc. This book will give those interested in such passages in Chinese life. That insight. I throughy recommend this book.