Ha Jin author of A Map of Betrayal
In Ha Jin's latest novel (Jin, who teachers English at Brandeis University, has won numerous book awards for his writings), he presents with convincing accuracy the life of a Chinese- born double agent, Gary Shang, working concurrently for the CIA, and for the Chinese Government's espionage arm.
He is a bigamist, who is torn between his allegiance to two wives and two countries: in the late 1940's, he married a country lady in northern Shandong Province, fathered twins with her and then never saw her again. He is recruited by the Chinese Communists to infiltrate the spy networks of the retreating Nationalists under Chiang Kai- Shek.
He is living with separation pains from his first family as his espionage takes him far away to Okinawa where he gains recognition as a translator of key Chinese documents for US intelligence.
He then settles in the US, marries his second wife and fathers a daughter, who is key to the novel. Here, as a Chinese mole, and then a naturalized citizen, he shows his mettle to the C.I.A as one of the best deciphers of Chinese intelligence.
He meets with his Chinese handler occasionally in Hong Kong passing along valuable information.
His intelligence is so vital to the Chinese that at one point Chairman Mao declares that Gary's work is equal in value to four armored divisions.
Jin alternates chapters of the chronological story of Gary's life with chapters in which his American born daughter, a college teacher of History, travels to China as an exchange Professor; here she
unravels the secretive life of her father as well as that of her siblings.
The novel is an intriguing fast read-- against a background that covers 30 years of Chinese American relations.
If you enjoy spy novels, this is one not to miss.
Kudos to Ha Jin.
No comments:
Post a Comment