Iris Chang
Iris Chang (Iris Shun-Ru Chang) was born on March 28th, 1968. Iris passed away November 9th, 2004 at 36 years old. Iris Chang was born in Princeton, NJ, USA. Chang attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and Johns Hopkins University where she received a Master of Arts degree in Writing Seminars.
Iris Chang was an American activist, journalist, and author. She is famously known for her 1997 book
The Rape of Nanking, which was a bestseller. A biography about her life,
Finding Iris Chang, was published in 2007 and subsequently, a documentary about her life
Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking was aired the same year.
The Rape of Nanking is a bestselling non-fiction book about the Nanjing Massacre of 1937–1938. It tells the story of the mass murder and rape of Chinese civilians by the Imperial Japanese Army in Nanjing, the capital of the Republic of China at the time, during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The book is divided into three parts. The first section majors on the massacre from three different perspectives: the Japanese soldiers who committed the atrocities, the Chinese civilians who were the victims, and the Westerners who tried to offer help. The second section deals with what happened after the massacre and how the U.S. and European governments responded after World War II. The last section focuses on why the massacre remained largely unknown to the public for so long.
Chang gives detailed and graphic descriptions of the atrocities, strongly criticizing the Japanese government for not acknowledging or taking responsibility for the events. She also critiques the Japanese public's lack of awareness about the massacre.
As one of the first major English-language books on the Nanjing Massacre, it introduced the event to a global audience and renewed interest in Japan's wartime actions in Asia.
The Rape of Nanking has been translated into different languages and has become reference point for those who wish to understand this rarely talked about event in human history. It has sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States and largely contributed to Iris Chang’s popularity.
Chang was featured in shows including
Good Morning America and
Nightline . Chang's lack of formal historical expertise was questioned by several reviewers, who also pointed out potential flaws in her interpretation of Japanese culture and the events surrounding the massacre.
Despite this criticism, Chang’s work had a big impact. It led to the rediscovery of important diaries by John Rabe and Minnie Vautrin. These diaries detailed efforts to protect civilians in the Nanking Safety Zone. The book also inspired the 2007 documentary Nanking, which brought more attention to this tragic event.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Iris Chang are:
- John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
- James Lee Burke, author of the Dave Robicheaux Series.
- Dan Brown, author of the Robert Langdon Series.
Iris Chang: F.A.Q
When was Iris Chang Born?
Iris Chang was born on March 28th, 1968.
When did Iris Chang die?
Iris Chang died on November 9th, 2004 at 36 years old.
Where was Iris Chang Born?
Iris Chang was born in Princeton, NJ, USA.
What was the first book Iris Chang wrote?
The first book written by Iris Chang was Thread of the Silkworm, published in 1995.
What was the most recent book Iris Chang wrote?
Her most recently released work was The Chinese in America on March 31st, 2003.
How many books has Iris Chang written?
Iris Chang has written 3 books. All of her books are Non-Fiction Books.