C. Y. Lee (1915–2018)
Author of The Flower Drum Song
About the Author
Chin Yang Lee was born in Hunan Province, China on December 23, 1915. He graduated from National Southwestern Associated University in 1942. He worked for a time as a secretary for a maharajah on the border between China and Burma. He came to New York in 1943 after fleeing the Japanese. He received show more a master of fine arts degree from Yale University in 1947. His first book, The Flower Drum Song, was published in 1957. It was adapted into a Broadway musical and then a movie. His other books included The Sawbwa and His Secretary: My Burmese Reminiscences, China Saga, and Gate of Rage. He died from complications of kidney failure on November 8, 2018 at the age of 102. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: C.Y. Lee (photo by Lia Chang)
Works by C. Y. Lee
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Lee, Chin-yang
- Other names
- Li, Jinyang
- Birthdate
- 1915-12-27
- Date of death
- 2018-11-08
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- China (birth)
USA - Birthplace
- Hunan Province, China
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Cause of death
- kidney failure
- Places of residence
- San Francisco, California, USA
Alhambra, California, USA - Education
- Yale University School of Drama (MFA | 1947)
Columbia University
National Southwestern Associated University (1942)
Shandong University - Occupations
- author
translator
teacher
journalist
secretary
Members
Reviews
The second son of heaven: a novel of ninete… by C. Y. Lee
The second son of heaven is a broadly true story set against the splendour and upheaval of 19th century China under the rule of the Manchu Dynasty. This was a turbulent, bloody and important time in China's history, where east and west clashed, and China's direction was forever changed. Review by Megan Wallens, September, 2018, - full review in book.
When I saw The movie made from this book also called The Flower Drum Song when I was young I enjoyed it very much. The book as is usually the case bears somewhat of a resemblance but has it's very own charms.The story is told through the eyes of Old Master Wang who is an immigrant from China now living in Chinatown, San Francisco. He and his wife left in the forties or fifties when China was becoming communistic.
Old Master Wang has two sons, one in his twenties Wang Ta and one just fourteen Wang San. His wife has died some years past and he despairs of raising two sons with the Chinese characteristics of filial piety and following the teachings of Confucius. His sons of course have become Americanized and want to do things a different ways.
The story is told in a light humorous fashion that show the collision of cultural values that brings out the best in both worlds.… (more)
Old Master Wang has two sons, one in his twenties Wang Ta and one just fourteen Wang San. His wife has died some years past and he despairs of raising two sons with the Chinese characteristics of filial piety and following the teachings of Confucius. His sons of course have become Americanized and want to do things a different ways.
The story is told in a light humorous fashion that show the collision of cultural values that brings out the best in both worlds.… (more)
Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 14
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 175
- Popularity
- #122,547
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 15