Farmers shouldering a pole. Women washing with a stick. An old man selling his sugar figurines. The ancient temples. Small villages. These typical scenes in the Chinese way of life became subjects of the love letters six decades ago.
They were letters an American soldier wrote to his newly-wed wife. With his vivid description and illustrative sketches, China Mailbag Uncensored walks the readers through World War II in China during the Japanese invasion period.
During the latter days of the War of Resistance Against Japanese aggression (1937-45), General Joseph Stillwell ordered American officers to oversee ordnance distribution (armaments). Lou Glist, the author, was one of them.
He left home for China before Christmas Day in 1944, becoming an armourer. In the following 17 months, not only did he write a lot to his wife, Lottie, but also drew more than 100 sketches and cartoons, giving vivid pictures of how Chinese people had endured the arduous war and of how his life was.
By reading this book, the reader can feel the foreign experience of a young American on a desperate and dangerous mission to help the Chinese defeat the Japanese in the war.
"My objective was to sustain her optimism and reduce any gnawing fear of personal loss, especially in a world with such a vastly different culture," Glist wrote in his introduction. "I tried to capture my cultural shock and learning experiences in words and drawings to reflect the pathos and humor of the circumstances."
Lottie wrote in the preface of the book's Chinese version: "He wrote to me with an artist's eye so that I could see the textured landscape, could smell the air and could see the gallant Chinese people striving to save their country. I saw his love of China in every word and sketch he sent and, through his eyes, grew to love his China, too."
Zhao Qizheng, former minister of the Information Office of the State Council, who recommended that the book be published in Chinese, said at an author event for the Chinese version last week in Beijing: "I felt as if I were watching history unfold while reading his book. I could see the friendship and co-operation between the Chinese people and the US soldiers, their courage, and I could feel the sense of humor, although the war was brutal."
The book was published by New World Press of Beijing.
Back in the United States, after his China Mailbag Uncensored was published in the United States last year, it aroused great interest among readers.
"When I finished reading China Mailbag Uncensored, I felt compelled to share with you my deepest appreciation for what you had written," commented Mary Noland from Houston. "I valued the cultural sensitivity you evidenced, your engaging illustrations and deeply personal responses to your experiences. ... Your sensitivity in describing what is often not obvious to others, those things that flavor and season experience. Your 'inner eye' and emotional sensitivity came through."
"Thank goodness that your wonderful new book, China Mailbag Uncensored, was published to record the truth!" commented R.T. Barnhart from Columbia University.
Dr Jack Gren from Fort Wayne, Indiana, said: "As the pages were turned, many memories of people, places, things and happenings were recalled. It will be positioned in a place of prominence in the educational exhibit."
Glist rejoined his wife in 1946. In 1984, he and Lottie toured China, "with the idea of seeing many of the places I had told her about in 1945-46," he said.
In 1997, they brought their granddaughter to China, touring several major cities.
On Saturday, Glist, now 82, together with other veterans both from China and abroad who had taken part in the war, were invited to the ceremony commemorating the victory at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It was also the Glists' 61st wedding anniversary, which they also celebrated.
His book in Chinese serves as a good reminder of the Chinese efforts in resisting the Japanese.
"You will meet the Chinese, Americans and Europeans who played roles in this drama," he wrote in the introduction.
"It is the intent that the reader be entertained as well as learn from this portraiture of a most unusual world. China, India and Myanmar were the Allies' backdoor battlefield, which was filled with astounding feats of courage, both by combatants and civilians directly affected."
(China Daily September 6, 2005)
