Open my old photo album

Author: Kong Dongmei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Family memory, photographic memory, are the inevitable products of young people's journey toward cultural consciousness, leading to a sense of root-seeking. Opening My Family's Old Photo Album—My Grandpa Mao Zedong in My Heart shows its emergence in 21st-century China. The author elaborates on her understanding of Mao Zedong, a figure with a profound impact on Chinese history, which is bound to attract great attention from readers. As the granddaughter of Mao Zedong and He Zizhen, the author presents the story from dual perspectives—her role as the descendant of a great leader and as a contemporary woman. She weaves together themes of women, marriage, and family. Among the numerous publications commemorating the 110th anniversary of Mao Zedong's birth, this book stands out for its unique features and significance.
"The Old Photos" has been a hot topic in recent Chinese publishing, but few books have been published independently as family albums, especially those involving historical giants and celebrities. The book features rare old photos preserved by the author and her family for many years and never published before. More importantly, the author shares the extraordinary stories behind these photos with a humble and sincere voice. Compared to other books on revolutionary history, this one has a strong sense of the times. Through comparisons of her grandmother He Zizhen, mother Li Min, and her own experience studying abroad, as well as an analysis of her grandmother's married life, the author, with backgrounds in both Chinese and Western higher education, makes a heartening attempt to approach the subject with a cultural and rational perspective.