Mao's Last Dancer (Young Readers' Edition) - Softcover

Cunxin, Li

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141320869 ISBN 13: 9780141320861

Publisher: Penguin, 2006

Synopsis

The true story of a poor Chinese peasant boy who, plucked unsuspectingly at the age of ten from millions of others across the land to be trained as a ballet dancer, turned the situation to his advantage to become one of the world's greatest ballet stars.
Simply told, with charm, humour and compassion and at times, great drama. His childhood, despite the terrible hardships, is drawn with love and affection and contrasts starkly with the seven lonely years of gruelling training at the Peking Dance Academy. At the age of l8, Li performs at the Houston Ballet school in the US, which leads to his dramatic defection.
This is a condensed edition, specially for younger readers, and has an Afterword especially for children.

About this title

Review:

[A] fascinating memoir told simply but passionately, with subtle humor and unguarded emotion. The Houston Chronicle
Mix Billy Elliot with Torn Curtain and you ll have some of the tale in very broad outline well-paced full of adventures. Kirkus Reviews

Fascinating reading unfolds with honesty, humor, and a quiet dignity. This book has wide appeal, for it concerns not only a dancer s coming of age in a turbulent time but also individual strength, self-discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit. Library Journal
The facts of his life are astonishing on their own, but what makes Li Cunxin s engrossing autobiography so captivating is his enthusiastic retelling of every twist and turn. Vogue (Australia)"

"[A] fascinating memoir...told simply but passionately, with subtle humor and unguarded emotion."--The Houston Chronicle
"Mix Billy Elliot with Torn Curtain and you'll have some of the tale in very broad outline...well-paced...full of adventures."--Kirkus Reviews

"Fascinating reading...unfolds with honesty, humor, and a quiet dignity. This book has wide appeal, for it concerns not only a dancer's coming of age in a turbulent time but also individual strength, self-discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit."--Library Journal
"The facts of his life are astonishing on their own, but what makes Li Cunxin's engrossing autobiography so captivating is his enthusiastic retelling of every twist and turn."--Vogue (Australia)

-[A] fascinating memoir...told simply but passionately, with subtle humor and unguarded emotion.---The Houston Chronicle
-Mix Billy Elliot with Torn Curtain and you'll have some of the tale in very broad outline...well-paced...full of adventures.---Kirkus Reviews

-Fascinating reading...unfolds with honesty, humor, and a quiet dignity. This book has wide appeal, for it concerns not only a dancer's coming of age in a turbulent time but also individual strength, self-discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit.---Library Journal
-The facts of his life are astonishing on their own, but what makes Li Cunxin's engrossing autobiography so captivating is his enthusiastic retelling of every twist and turn.---Vogue (Australia)

Review:

"An inspiring true story of courage and determination." (Adeline Yen Mah, author of Falling Leaves)

"His vivid descriptions of life at home, surviving on family love and dried yams, and of the harsh regime, make riveting reading." (The Guardian)

"[A] heartening rags-to-riches story." (Publishers Weekly)

"Mao's Last Dancer is a modern fairy-tale. Li Cunxin's story is a breathtaking indictment of brute Communism, told with great honesty." (Kate Adie)

"Appalling, brave and funny ... you cannot do better than to read this book." (The Mail on Sunday)

"The listener's interest never flags ... [Paul English] imbues the narrative with ingenuousness and enthusiasm. The result is an audiobook that is superior to its source." (AudioFile Magazine)

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0141320869
• ISBN 13: 9780141320861
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352