China, 1989–1997

Xinran's Silenced Voices is an essential work that gives voice to women silenced for decades in a deeply restrictive and hypocritical society. Taking advantage of China's opening in the 1980s under Deng Xiaoping, Xinran launched a radio program aimed at women, where thousands shared their harrowing stories of cruelty, resilience, and courage.

In this deeply moving collection, Xinran bravely tackles taboo subjects such as forced marriage, rape, homosexuality, and the place of women in modern China. These personal stories weave a disturbing and revealing social chronicle of the Cultural Revolution and its aftermath. A heartbreaking, inspiring, and utterly unforgettable read.

A scathing indictment of the violence in China and the hypocrisy of the Cultural Revolution. A tribute to the shattered lives of countless women forgotten in the crowd. A cathartic memoir of a woman who defied censorship to give a voice to those who did not have one.