《生于中国(英文版)》记录了上个世纪二、三十年代出生在中国的一些美国人的特殊人生经历。故事最早从上个世纪30年代作者的父亲在中国的童年生活开始，一直延续到2008年北京奥运会前夕。
本书主要采访了5位生于中国的美国人，他们都在中国内陆城市出生长大，童年与少年时期都在中国度过，战争结束后他们又都回到美国，进入美国社会的主流生活。少时所接收到的文化与成年时面对的社会文化在他们身上不时发生着冲撞。书中，5位CBA（中国生的美国人）不仅回忆了他们的童年生活，也谈到了他们成年时对这段往事的感受，更有作者乔恩·赫德与其中一位女士数次到中国寻根并拍摄纪录片的过程叙述。
乔恩·赫德著的《生于中国(英文版)》讲述：Filmmaker and author JohnHelde knew for years that hiswhite American father was bornin China - but beyond that hisdad's past was a mystery. Born inChina tells the little-known storyof expatriate American childrengrowing up in pre-Mao Chinaand the cultural and politicalexperiences that shaped theirlives. Sons and daughters of early-twentieth century missionariesthese Americans were raised farfrom home in a country rockedby disaster and political chaos.They lived with a foot in twocultures speaking Chinese as afirst language and growing toadulthood as war and unrest tookover China and the world. Whenthey finally arrived ”home” manyfound America to be the foreigncountry.
Setting off on a journey to uncoverhis father's childhood Heldeencounters a cast of thoughtfuland resilient Americans whoseties to China made them who theyare. Blending interviews lettersand photographs with Helde'snarrative voice Born in Chinapaints a vivid portrait of a uniqueAmerican experience and oneson's quest to understand it all.
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