Chinese Camp

The Great Wall of Confinement: The Chinese Prison Camp through Contemporary Fiction and Reportage

Description

China is the only major world power to have entered the twenty-first century with a thriving prison camp network-a frightening, mostly hidden realm known since 1951 as the laogai system. This book, the most comprehensive study of China's prison camps to date, draws from a wide range of primary sources, including many compelling literary documents, to illuminate life inside China's prison camps. Focusing mainly on the second half of the twentieth century, Philip F. Williams and Yenna Wu outline the evolution of the laogai system, construct a vivid picture of prisoners' lives from arrest and interrogation to release, and provide a troubling new perspective on the human rights issues plaguing China. Illustrations: 6 b/w photographs

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-12-24
Summary: "Well-researched and clearly written elucidation of a clandestine reality"

As a student of history and law I found this book to be incredibly enlightening as well as informative. Not only do the authors expose the dark side of human nature, but they also elucidate these shadows with a wealth of information. The abundance of sources used is this book really amazed me. Although much of the information is rather shocking, this book is extremely well written and I think it would be a worthwhile read for anyone even remotely interested in this important subject matter.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-12-20
Summary: "Informative and Well-Written"

This book provides a comprehensive and analytical review of the Chinese prison camp that is both informative and thought-provoking. The content of the book itself is presented in a clear, concise manner which is highly effective and cogent. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-12-20
Summary: "very real and educating"

This book gives you a sense of actual events and it opens your eyes to the realities of prison life in the PRC. I would definitely recommend this book.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-12-19
Summary: "Shockingly educative"

The language and content of the book makes for an educational yet engrossing read. The absurd and revealing facts concerning the Chinese prison labor camps are presented in a highly organized and easily understood, despite the complexity of the subject matter. Highly recommended to all readers.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-12-19
Summary: "eye-opening"

For me, this was the first book I read that revealed the harsh realities of a time in China's history. It was very informative, and I actually learned a lot from it.