To the Edge of the Sky [Paperback]

Anhua Gao (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140287248 | ISBN-13: 978-0140287240 | Publication Date: June 2001

Anhua Gao's parents were hailed as revolutionary heroes. In her early years, she knew love and support and grew up in a privileged world. But when they both tragically died, all she was left with was her parent's fading reputation to guide her through the horrors of 20th century China. This is the story of how Anhua first struggled with and then against the ideological machine of Red China. It is a story of pain and horror, turmoil and tragedy. But most of all it is the story of a woman who found courage, hope and humour and who, against unbelievable odds, survived.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gao and her country, the People's Republic of China, start out on equal ground, both coming into existence in 1949. But as Gao grows into a strong and thoughtful adult, her beloved country disintegrates before her eyes. Schooled in Communist propaganda since infancy, her ideas are smashed by the hypocrisy she sees all around her. Starvation, cannibalism, spousal abuse, unjust imprisonment, humiliation and the denial of anything good or enjoyable are among the countless atrocities she and her comrades endure. Her parents, revered Communist officials who are both dead by the time she is 11, are deemed revolutionary martyrs-an accolade that eventually saves Gao's life but awards her only slight privilege throughout treacherous years of suspicion and political unrest. Though her parents' status and good connections occasionally prove useful, Gao is hardly spared from the harsh living conditions and feral survivalism that defined the Cultural Revolution. Through her many ordeals, Gao never loses her sense of compassion for others, even remarking, "We were constantly told that two-thirds of the world was under a capitalist regime and that the people were living in an abyss of suffering as if they were in `deep water and scorching fire'.... I began to feel so sorry for the rest of the world. If this was `heaven' in China, how bad was the `hell' they had to put up with?" Painful to read but difficult to put down, the book explains China's recent history through fascinating and harrowing personal accounts. 45 b&w photos, map.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Born the same year as the People's Republic (1949), Gao begins her memoir with her parent's self-sacrifice and dedication in the Communist cause, leading to her own privileged childhood. The title refers to how Gao saw Britain on a map as a child, when she believed that all capitalists lived in a hell compared to the Chinese communist heaven. By the end of this debut book, though, Gao is on her way to England. She is objective and sometimes even humorous as she describes the political tides in China from 1949 to 1994 and where they lead her. Some of the events Gao recounts are horrendous, yet there are also instances of human goodness, such as a righteous judge who saves Gao from death, teachers who try to teach despite fear of torture, and jail mates who show Gao survival skills. She describes people's varying reactions to a reign of terror-some identify with their oppressors, some survive by subterfuge, and some cling blindly to their idealism. Though the book shares similarities with others, such as Jung Chang's Wild Swans, Gao's picaresque and evenhanded voice are unique. Recommended for public libraries.
Eve Alison Nyren, Sacramento P.L.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Penguin UK (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140287248
• ISBN-13: 978-0140287240
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,653,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story about a real China, March 11, 2003

By 

Lifei Lin (Shanghai, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To the Edge of the Sky: A Story of Love, Betrayal, Suffering, and the Strength of Human Courage (Hardcover)

As a Chinese national, the suffering exposed in the story of Anhua Gao is particularly felt to my bones, but the courage demonstrated to fight for life is equally admirable. Apallingly true and spellbound, To the Edge of the Sky is a good read for China recent history and I would recommend to everyone who wants to know a real China from 1950s to 1990s.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where is Hollywood when you need them!, April 3, 2003

By 

Paul Harris (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To the Edge of the Sky: A Story of Love, Betrayal, Suffering, and the Strength of Human Courage (Hardcover)

This is an amazing storey of one person's courage and determination to survive in a world where everything is upside down. The book is perfect for people who enjoy a powerful emotional experience, and also for those with an interest in the turmoil of the recent history of China. I'm a 32 year old male student of Asian studies, and I have to admit that this storey and the way it is told turned me into a little boy, falling for its author and sometimes on the verge of tears. A great read for all!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully written, absolutely compelling memoir, February 16, 2004

By 

Suzanne Amara (MA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: To the Edge of the Sky (Paperback)

I have read many memoirs about life in China during the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, but I found this one to be among the very best I've read. The author writes from the heart, and includes so many fascinating and sometimes horrifying details. I found most interesting watching her own inner transformation, from a model child who believed all she was told about Mao and the Chinese government, to an adult who had the courage to defy her unjust accusers without fear. I pray for her continued happiness in England.