The Rape of Nanking

By: Iris Chang

Narrated by: Anna Fields

In December 1937, in the capital of China, one of the most brutal massacres in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. The Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking and within weeks not only looted and burned the defenseless city but systematically raped, tortured and murdered more than 300,000 Chinese civilians. Amazingly, the story of this atrocity- one of the worst in world history- continues to be denied by the Japanese government.

The Rape of Nanking tells the story from three perspectives: that of the Japanese soldiers who performed it; of the Chinese civilians who endured it; and finally of a group of Europeans and Americans who refused to abandon the city and were able to create a safety zone that saved almost 300,000 Chinese. It was Iris Chang who discovered the diaries of the German leader of this rescue effort, John Rabe, whom she calls the "Oskar Schindler of China." A loyal supporter of Adolf Hitler, but far from the terror planned in his Nazi-controlled homeland, he worked tirelessly to save the innocent from slaughter.

©1997 by Iris Chang (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks

A Story that needed telling!

I've heard the term much of my life. I lived through WWII and never got the details on what the "Rape of Nanking" meant. This was a story I needed to hear. The Japanese culture needs correcting....but only exposes like this will let the current generation know what thier forebears did.......

the darkest depths of humanity

the Jungian shadow is demonstrated quite well from a psychological perspective in this book. and a well structured narrative.
I'd class this book as mandatory history for every breathing soul alive.

Even-handed presentation of forgotton history

Was surprised that a historical account, even with description of horrendous acts of war, was so mezmerizing. Finished quickly. Will be reading more on this part of history

Amazing True Story that must be remembered !!

How many people know what happened to the Chinese people in Nanking at the hands of Japanese invaders before the U>S. entered WWII?

This is great account of such a difficult subject well read!

Difficult

It's obvious that this text was a very terrible labor of love for the author and also perhaps a cathartic exercise into a dark corner of our humanity. The author pulls no punches in her account yet there is no appearance of over indulgence. Well researched, the lessons of the story stand on their own...sobering, difficult, poignant and necessary.

Jolting

The book is fantastically written in a style rarely seen but perfectly fitting. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the human mind, human culture, and even basic history. I had to take breaks from the book after hearing some of the most atrocious stories I’ve ever heard. During those breaks I felt forced to do outside research to verify what I had heard, I was in such disbelief.
Highly recommended to anyone of an appropriate age.

Eye Opening Account of a Horrific Time

An epic account of the dark side of humanity! In an effort to stop history from repeating itself, this book should be a mandatory read in schools throughout the world! Thank you Iris Chang for being brave enough to write it!

A Chinese Holocaust

Well written and researched presentation of unspeakable murders and atrocities committed by the Japanese army during World War iI. This other holocaust was one of the greatest acts of deliberate murder and rape sanctioned by a government. It is a chilling tale that few talked about until this work was completed. Sad to say, the author later became one of many victims of mental health issues. Her work serves to present difficult truths to a world where some try to hide what happened in the past. Though the subject matter is difficult, it is well worth the mental pain to learn the truth so in the future we may avoid similar holocausts.

Sad brutality of war to its extreme

The complete story, the actions, the people, the aftermath were all well-balanced - personal and yet shared in a global perspective - respecting all people.

While the Japanese have not renounced their actions, they are not alone - The Turks do not renounce their Armenian massacres, the Americans in the Philippines or their own Native Americans, the British world-wide, Belgians, Portuguese.. etc. The reality is that leaders rarely see the impact of their decisions and their followers learn to accept the atrocities that they are asked to carry out. I am not diminishing the problem or the need for responsibility, but the problem is a human one of accountability to each other - valuing morality above a "state" or "self". When we think of Freedom - we can not just think of Freedom for one's self or for your nation-state, but of all life.

This book clarifies the value of life and I wish that humanity can truly learn the deep value of each life.

Discover the depths of human evil

Read at your own peril. This book will take you to the depths of mans capacity to do evil.