Spanning 35 years, this enthralling memoir chronicles the life of a survivor who has been buffeted by the winds of history. Ting-xing Ye was born in Shanghai, the fourth child of a factory owner who had his business taken from him. Orphans by age thirteen, Ye's family were torn apart and scattered by the Cultural Revolution. From the miserable prison farm where she laboured, Ye gained acceptance into Beijing University, and later became a translator in the Foreign Ministry. In this moving tale of a turbulent life, Ye describes the aftermath of her feudal-style marriage that led to her eventual defection to Canada. Ye is now a Canadian citizen, but her former husband has refused her access to their daughter. Ye continues to attempt to contact her daughter, hoping to bring her to Canada, where she too may be free.
