Book summary

Set during the Korean War and written in the form of a memoir, Ha Jin's novel centers on a Chinese soldier named Yu Yuan, who is captured and taken to an American POW camp. There, though he is well-treated by the Americans, he finds that another war is going on, between the Communist prisoners and the nationalists. Yu finds himself being used by both sides--who are equally ruthless--because he is able to speak English. As he copes with the dishonor of capture and with his immediate dangers, Yu ponders what will happen to him when he does manage to return to China. And when the war is over and he is able to go home, he finds a changed world--and unexpected changes in himself. Named by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2004.

Media reviews

"Another brilliant installment in Ha Jin's history of modern China, written with his usual understatement and clarity."