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Stateless in Shanghai: A Daughter's Search for Her Mother's Past

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Book Cover Of Stateless In Shanghai By Liliane Willens Stateless In Shanghai Liliane Willens

Stateless in Shanghai

by Liliane Willens

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5066 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	351 pages

Stateless in Shanghai is a powerful and moving memoir that tells the story of Liliane Willens' search for her mother's past. Born in Shanghai to a Jewish family, Liliane's mother was stateless and had to flee to the United States after World War II. Liliane's search for her mother's past takes her to Shanghai, where she uncovers a hidden history of love, loss, and resilience.

Liliane's mother, Lea, was born in Shanghai in 1922. Her father was a Russian Jew who had fled to China after the Russian Revolution. Her mother was a Chinese woman. Lea grew up in a wealthy and cosmopolitan family, but her life was turned upside down by the outbreak of World War II. In 1941, the Japanese invaded Shanghai and established a puppet government. Lea and her family were forced to live in a ghetto, and they were constantly harassed and discriminated against.

After the war, Lea was able to escape to the United States, where she married and raised a family. However, she never forgot her past, and she always longed to return to Shanghai. In 1997, Liliane accompanied her mother on a trip back to Shanghai. It was a life-changing experience for both of them. Liliane was able to learn about her mother's past and to see the city where she had grown up. Lea was able to reconnect with her roots and to find a sense of closure.

Stateless in Shanghai is a beautifully written and deeply moving memoir. It is a story of love, loss, and resilience. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Praise for Stateless in Shanghai

"Stateless in Shanghai is a powerful and moving memoir. Liliane Willens has written a beautifully crafted and deeply personal story about her mother's past and her own search for identity. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of China, the Jewish experience, or the complexities of family and identity."

--Jonathan D. Spence, author of The Search for Modern China

"Stateless in Shanghai is a remarkable and inspiring story. Liliane Willens has written a book that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about their own roots or the resilience of the human spirit."

--Isabel Allende, author of The House of the Spirits

About the Author

Liliane Willens is a writer and journalist. She is the author of two previous books, The Children of Shanghai and A Thousand Perfect Days. She lives in New York City.