Becoming Madame Mao is a historical novel by Anchee Min detailing the life of one of Jiang Qing. She became Madame Mao after her marriage to Mao Zedong. She later ascended to the role of First Lady of China after Mao became Chairman of the People's Republic of China. In this story Min tries to cast a sympathetic light on one of the most controversial political figures in The PRC. The book switches back and forth between first and third person making it confusing at times, but it definitely makes for a view from all sides of the story. Anchee Min (閔安琪 born 1957) is a painter, photographer, musician, and author who lives in Los Angeles and Shanghai. ... Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976; Mao Tse-Tung in Wade-Giles) was the chairman of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1943 and the chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 until his death. ...
BECOMINGMADAMEMAO is a remarkable achievement and destined to be a classic of historical fiction.
The MadameMao of the title is, of course, the MadameMao, the "White-Boned Demon," the wife of China's legendary ruler, the woman who is the Yoko Ono of contemporary Chinese politics, doomed for what she did as much as she was doomed for what she did not do.
BECOMINGMADAMEMAO is a powerful and moving portrait of a woman's life.
MadameMao was about to inherit Mao's empire after his death in 1976 and was shooting a propaganda film (sort of like a campaign commercial) to help ease her way into power.
I was declared MadameMao's follower, and as punishment I was forced to work as a set clerk on temporary contracts at the Shanghai Film Studio for eight years.
MadameMao was a strong woman in a culture and an environment where women were not allowed to be strong.
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