Returning Home with Glory

[helen]

Returning Home with Glory Chinese Villagers around the Pacific, 1849 to 1949(榮歸故里：太平洋地區的中國僑鄉1849–1949)Michael WilliamsCrossing Seas19th Century, 20th Century, China, History, Hong Kong, North America, Other Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific January 2018
264 pages
6" x 9", 23 illustrations; 5 maps


this work presents detailed research based on the more than eighty villages of the Long Du district (near Zhongshan City in Guangdong Province), as well as the three major destinations—Sydney, San Francisco, and Honolulu—of the huaqiao who came from this region. Out of this analysis of what truly mattered to the villagers, the choices they had and made, and what constituted success and failure in their lives, a sympathetic portrayal of the huaqiao emerges. www.hkupress.hku.hk/pro/1594.php


PDF preview
www.hkupress.hku.hk/pro/con/1594.pdf

[Doug 周]

Thanks Helen for the link. I look forward to purchasing the book Spring 2018. Hopefully I will be able to review and post a review. This interest me because of my Zhongshan and Lung Du heritage and that my GGF worked in the USA and returned to Zhongshan.

Here is a screenprint of the pdf about the book:

[douglaslam]

I had my returning home moment in 1973 when China was still embroiled in the Cultural Revolution and everyone was desperately poor. My cousin met me and my auntie at the pier when we arrived from Hong Kong via Canton on a flat-bottom barge. I was privileged to bring with me much sought-after bicycle, sewing machine, wristw-atch, clothing, fabric, radio, medicine, foodstuff......My cousin hired several bicycle couriers to transport the bags and bags home in the village. It was a minor sensation. It made my mother a very proud woman.

I can also recall in the very early 1950s when I witnessed on a couple of occasions a gold mountain guest returning home. He would be seen in a pith helmet or bowler hat and suit. He had taps on his shoes so that he could be heard. We, the small kids would follow the man and his group home. We would not be dismissed unless we were given treats, gold mountain biscuits.

Mavellous memories.

[helen]

I returned with LC and my Mum, to Guangzhou, in 1980. So long ago - but we too had purchased a whole lot of stuff. Don't even remember how we got it from HK to China - by train I'm sure.

[helen]

Jan 30, 2018 6:28:38 GMT -5 Doug 周 said:

Thanks Helen for the link. I look forward to purchasing the book Spring 2018. Hopefully I will be able to review and post a review. This interest me because of my Zhongshan and Lung Du heritage and that my GGF worked in the USA and returned to Zhongshan.

Here is a screenprint of the pdf about the book:View Attachment

Hi Doug - you can preview it via the net

PDF preview
www.hkupress.hku.hk/pro/con/1594.pdf