Under Red Skies: The Life and Times of a Chinese Millennial

Karoline Kan's memoir, "Under Red Skies," explores how her family navigated poverty and political unrest in China, breaking traditional chains and facing the past. It is the first English-language memoir from a Chinese millennial to be published in the West, offering a fascinating portrait of a hidden world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2019
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Karoline Kan, a former New York Times reporter based in Beijing, delves into the lives of three generations of her family as they navigate through a country plagued by poverty and frequent political unrest. As the Kans transition from peaceful villages to bustling towns and through the bustling streets of Beijing, they are compelled to confront their past and break free from the traditional constraints imposed on women. Raw and unflinching, Karoline Kan presents captivating narratives of her grandmother, who endured hardships during the Great Famine; her great-uncle, a former Communist Red Guard; her mother, who defied the One-Child Policy by giving birth to Karoline; her cousin, a struggling factory worker earning just 6 yuan (88 cents) per hour; and her own journey as an ambitious millennial seeking employment and true love amidst a period of bewildering social transformation.

Under Red Skies serves as an engaging firsthand account and Kan's quest to comprehend the rapidly evolving, ever-shifting landscape of China. It stands as the first English-language memoir from a Chinese millennial to be published in the West, offering a captivating glimpse into a world that often remains hidden from mainstream attention.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 222 x 149 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787381759