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Not Your China Doll
- The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong
- Narrated by: Caroline McLaughlin, Katie Gee Salisbury
- Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins
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Publisher's Summary
“Enlightening, nuanced, and honest.”—Lisa See
Set against the glittering backdrop of Los Angeles during the gin-soaked Jazz Age and the rise of Hollywood, this debut book celebrates Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star, to bring an unsung heroine to light and reclaim her place in cinema history.
One of Entertainment Weekly's "Books We Are Excited to Read in 2024"
Before Constance Wu, Sandra Oh, Awkwafina, or Lucy Liu, there was Anna May Wong. In her time, she was a legendary beauty, witty conversationalist, and fashion icon. Plucked from her family’s laundry business in Los Angeles, Anna May Wong rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks’s blockbuster The Thief of Bagdad. Fans and the press clamored to see more of this unlikely actress, but when Hollywood repeatedly cast her in stereotypical roles, she headed abroad in protest.
Anna May starred in acclaimed films in Berlin, Paris, and London. She dazzled royalty and heads of state across several nations, leaving trails of suitors in her wake. She returned to challenge Hollywood at its own game by speaking out about the industry’s blatant racism. She used her new stature to move away from her typecasting as the China doll or dragon lady, and worked to reshape Asian American representation in film.
Filled with stories of capricious directors and admiring costars, glamorous parties and far-flung love affairs, Not Your China Doll showcases the vibrant, radical life of a groundbreaking artist.
What the critics say
One of Autostraddle's Most Anticipated Queer Books for Spring 2024
One of All Arts's 10 New Books to Read This March
“A well-researched, thoughtful portrait of a groundbreaking woman whose ambition and artistic integrity far exceeded the limitations and challenges of her lifetime.”—EW's "Books We Are Excited to Read in 2024"
“[Anna May] Wong became the toast of Europe, brought global attention to Japan’s atrocities in China, and was the first Asian American to land her own TV series. Salisbury renders her epic life with flair.”—Hui Fei, CultureWag
“Author Salisbury tells the trailblazer’s [Anna May Wong's] tale in this definitive biography, packed with sizzling stories from film sets and decadent parties. Set against a backdrop of jazz-era Los Angeles, the result is a frank and sprightly account of the star’s life and legacy.”—Total Film Magazine