My China Eye

My China Eye is the final work of Israel Epstein (1915-2005), one of the last of the Old China Hands and one of the very few Western journalists to experience the Chinese Communist Revolution firsthand, from its earliest days to the highest levels of power. Born in Poland but raised in China, Epstein's writings from the front lines of the Chinese War of Resistance and Communist-Nationalist civil war have both influenced and infuriated U.S. policy, which sought to roll back the Chinese Revolution in the Cold War era. Though he became a Chinese citizen, Epstein was imprisoned by the Red Guards as the socialist utopia collapsed during the Cultural Revolution. During this dark period, Epstein found his ideals challenged in ways he never imagined, yet his lifelong struggle for social equality has never wavered. This powerful memoir is a roller coaster ride through some of the Twentieth century's most turbulent years and is a must-read for anyone interested in Chinese history.