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Heaven Does Not Block All Roads

A History of Taiwan Through the Life of Huang Chin-tao
Brief Description
As the geopolitical importance of Taiwan grows, this history provides a guide to the country. Huang Chin-tao was born in 1926, when Taiwan was still part of the Japanese Empire. By the time he died in 2019, Taiwan was a bustling, high-tech democracy and Huang had... Read More
Format: Hardback
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As the geopolitical importance of Taiwan grows, this history provides a guide to the country.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

As the geopolitical importance of Taiwan grows, this history provides a guide to the country.

Huang Chin-tao was born in 1926, when Taiwan was still part of the Japanese Empire. By the time he died in 2019, Taiwan was a bustling, high-tech democracy and Huang had lived through every twist and turn along the way. He served as a Japanese soldier in China during World War II; joined an armed uprising against Taiwan's Chinese Nationalist post-war government; spent twenty-four years imprisoned during the island's decades of martial law; and finally emerged to help lead the pro-democracy movement of the 1980s in his hometown, Taichung.

Drawing upon archives, memoirs, interviews and more, Anna Beth Keim tells the story of Taiwan through the journey of one extraordinary individual in Heaven Does Not Block All Roads. From his childhood scuffling with Japanese children to his transformation into a 'democracy farmer,' Huang's life vividly reflects contemporary Taiwanese history, and continues to inspire young Taiwanese today who are fighting to keep their home independent.

Over roughly a century, the island transitioned from an imperial outpost to an authoritarian state to a democracy, one still at risk of being snuffed out by China. This story is uniquely Taiwanese, yet illuminates experiences shared by countries everywhere: of colonisation and its aftermath, and the ongoing struggle to be free.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781911723622

Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 17 April 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Anna Beth Keim is a freelance writer and translator, who has been reporting on Taiwan since 2015. Her work has appeared in ChinaFile, Foreign Policy, YaleGlobal and The Foreign Service Journal. This is her first book.

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