Chinese Cinderella takes place in the 1940s and 1950s. It is set in Tjian, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Much of the story takes place in Adeline's family home, or in one of her schools. The occupation by the Japanese, the Communist revolution, and the British ownership of Hong Kong feature into the story as well.
It is one of the oldest known variants of Cinderella, first published in the Tang dynasty compilation Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang written around 850 by Duan Chengshi. Chinese compilations attest several versions from oral sources.
From the author of critically acclaimed and bestselling memoir Falling Leaves, this is a poignant and moving true account of her childhood, growing up as an unloved daughter in 1940s China.
When Yen Mah was one year old in 1938, Joseph Yen married a half-French, half-Chinese (Eurasian) 17-year-old girl named Jeanne Virginie Prosperi. The children referred to her as Niang (娘 niáng, another Chinese term for mother), and she is called so throughout Chinese Cinderella.
Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter (Wishbones) is a non-fiction book by Chinese-Canadian physician and author Adeline Yen Mah describing her experiences growing up in China.
Analysis of 'Chinese Cinderella' by Adeline Yen Mah
Where is the Chinese Cinderella set?
Chinese Cinderella takes place in the 1940s and 1950s. It is set in Tjian, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Much of the story takes place in Adeline's family home, or in one of her schools. The occupation by the Japanese, the Communist revolution, and the British ownership of Hong Kong feature into the story as well.
Yeh-shen is a Chinese Fairy Tale known to be one of the oldest variations of "Cinderella". The story first appears during the 9th Century in Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang.
Although the Disney classic doesn't explicitly state her nationality, her story is derived from Charles Perrault's French fairy tale “Cendrillon.” The grandeur of her royal ball and the charming château reflect the opulence of France's royal history.
Adeline's brothers — Adeline has three older brothers. They are made to dress in traditional Chinese clothing and wear traditional Chinese haircuts. Adeline's stepsiblings — Adeline has two younger stepsiblings who are the children of Niang and Adeline's father.
Adeline capitalizes on her victory and convinces her father to let her study in England like her brothers. The last chapter is a letter from Aunt Baba congratulating Adeline on her good turn of fortune and comparing Adeline's life to the traditional Chinese tale Ye Xian (“Chinese Cinderella”).
Aunt Baba is the sister of Adeline's Father, the daughter of Ye Ye, and the aunt of all of the children. Aunt Baba is unmarried, and so she lives with the family and is financially dependent on them, meaning that she is not in the position to defy Niang or Father when they are cruel and abusive.
Chinese Cinderella is a heart-wrenching memoir by Adeline Yen Mah. It shares the author's tumultuous childhood in China, where she faced rejection and abuse from her family. Despite her hardships, she found solace in her resilience and pursuit of education.
The moral of this book would be that no matter your circumstances, you can work hard and achieve your dreams. This book is really captivating and it tells the reader not to underestimate anyone. That's why I think this is an amazing book for everyone to read.
Who is the unwanted daughter in Chinese Cinderella?
Book overview. When Adeline Yen Mah's mother died giving birth to her, the family considered Adeline bad luck and she was made to feel unwanted all her life. Chinese Cinderella is the true story of her struggle for acceptance and her triumph against almost overwhelming odds.
It's a true story of the author's childhood where she was hated and despised by her family because she is believed to be the cause of her mothers death. Despite this she is an extremely intelligent girl trying exceedingly hard at school, desperate to prove her worth.
In the Greek story of Rhodopis, which translates to “Rosy-Cheeks,” a Greek slave girl marries the king of Egypt after an eagle steals one of her sandals and drops it in his lap. This version, which dates back to the first century CE, is one of the earliest recorded Cinderella variants.
There are currently only seven Caucasian Disney Princesses: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, and Merida. Snow White and Rapunzel are German. Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle are French.
Yeh-Hsien (also spelled “Yeh-Shen”), an ancient Chinese Cinderella first published in the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), exemplifies the first type of Cinderella tale. The protagonist's mother dies and her father remarries two wives, one of whom also dies and returns as a fish that comforts Yeh-Hsien.
Adeline Yen Mah first told her story in the emotive, bestselling Falling Leaves, an adult autobiography which charted her passage from childhood through to womanhood. Here in Chinese Cinderella she relates her tale for younger readers, detailing her difficult life as an unwanted and deeply misunderstood child.
Chinese Cinderella is the perfect title for Adeline Yen Mah's compelling autobiography in which, like the fairy-tale maiden, her childhood was ruled by a cruel stepmother. "Fifth Younger Sister" or "Wu Mei," as Yen Mah was called, is only an infant when her father remarries after her mother's death.
The main similarities between Cinderella and Chinese Cinderella lie with an evil stepmother and mean siblings. Like Cinderella, Adeline is placed at the bottom of the family social hierarchy with her Aunt Baba who is powerless living in her brother's home under the rule of Niang, Adeline's stepmother.
The true story "Chinese Cinderella" is about a young Chinese girl named Adeline who faces the struggles of being unwanted and unloved. Adeline is seen as bad luck because her mother died after she was born. Her stepmother, Niang, hates her and favors all other siblings besides Adeline.
