Super Short Summary

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang chronicles the experiences of three generations of Chinese women: the author’s grandmother, mother, and Chang herself, against the tumultuous backdrop of 20th-century China. It spans from the birth of Chang’s grandmother in 1909 to Chang’s departure for Great Britain in 1978, interweaving personal family history with China’s political upheavals, including the fall of the Manchu Dynasty, Japanese occupation, and the horrors of Mao Zedong's regime. The story reveals the brutality of Communist rule, particularly during the Cultural Revolution, highlighting the resilience of Chang’s family amid intense challenges and systemic indoctrination. The book includes themes of persecution, violence, and familial strife due to political zealotry.