51 pages • 1 hour read
The Rape of Nanking
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Book Brief
360
Book • Nonfiction
Nanjing, China • 1930s
1997
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang chronicles the 1937 Nanking massacre, where the Imperial Japanese Army, over six weeks, killed between 260,000 and 400,000 Chinese noncombatants and violated between 20,000 and 80,000 women. Published in 1997, the book is lauded for highlighting Japanese wartime atrocities and has significantly impacted awareness and understanding of these events. The text includes graphic descriptions of violence, sexual assault, and torture.
Dark
Unnerving
Informative
Melancholic
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
45,606 ratings
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Review Roundup
Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking is widely acclaimed for its rigorous research and emotional depth in narrating the Nanking Massacre. Praised for bringing attention to historical atrocities, it is also critiqued for occasional factual inaccuracies and a sometimes sensational tone. Nevertheless, it remains a crucial work in documenting one of history's brutal chapters.
Who Should Read The Rape of Nanking?
The ideal reader of Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking is someone interested in World War II history, human rights, and Asian studies. They likely appreciate detailed, harrowing accounts similar to those in Elie Wiesel’s Night or Primo Levi’s If This Is a Man, where personal and historical narratives intertwine to shed light on atrocities and their impact.
45,606 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
John Rabe
John Rabe
A German businessman and Nazi Party member in Nanking, Rabe played a crucial role in establishing the Nanking International Safety Zone, which sheltered hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians during the massacre.
Azuma Shiro
Azuma Shiro
A Japanese soldier who participated in the Nanking massacre and later admitted to committing war crimes, Shiro became known for his candid memoir and efforts to help document Japanese wartime atrocities.
Matsui Iwane
Matsui Iwane
Commander-in-chief in the Shanghai-Nanking region, Matsui commanded forces during the Nanking massacre and later faced prosecution at the Tokyo War Crimes trial.
Minnie Vautrin
Minnie Vautrin
An American missionary who helped protect thousands of women and children in Nanking during the massacre, Vautrin's efforts at Ginling College were instrumental in the survival of many.
Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson
An American surgeon in Nanking during the massacre, Wilson tirelessly worked to treat the injured, remaining in the city to assist victims at the University of Nanking Hospital.
360
Book • Nonfiction
Nanjing, China • 1930s
1997
Adult
18+ years
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