AT THE EDGE OF EMPIRE A Family's Reckoning with China

This very personal work chronicles patterns of Chinese history through the lives of the author and his father. Edward Wong, a NEW YORK TIMES correspondent, provides an adequate narration of his prologue and epilogue. Narrating the body of the work, Will Dao provides superb pronunciation and enunciation as he presents the moral dilemmas of the Mao and Xi eras. Dao tends not to change his tone, and that may be because the text is more factual than emotional. The most significant impediment for the listener is the use of myriad Chinese cultural terms and names that are barely explained. It would be helpful for the listener to already have a knowledge of Chinese history, especially its key cultural figures and political eras, to benefit from this well-written series of reflections. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]