WOMEN OF THE LONG MARCH

The Long March of 1934-35 marks a defining moment in modern Chinese history. Some 85,000 soldiers of the Chinese Communist Red Army marched in a determined retreat from the Nationalists. An indomitable group of 30 women was among them, most of whom gave birth and, heartbreakingly, abandoned their babies on the march. Stephanie Daniel relates the stories of these women with a cool detachment suitable for this scholarly account. Through Daniel's crisp descriptions, the listener begins to understand the motivation for the women's terrible sacrifices and their commitment to the ideal of Communism. Daniel's silky pronunciation of Chinese names and places makes this a model of audiobook success. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]