Wuhan, 1938: War, Refugees, and the Making of Modern China

During the spring of 1938, a flood of Chinese refugees displaced by the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945) converged on the central Yangzi valley tricity complex of Wuhan. For ten remarkable months, in a highly charged atmosphere of carnage, heroism, and desperation, Wuhan held out against the Japanese in what would become a turning point in the war--and one that attracted international attention. In a kaleidoscopic, interwoven series of chapters, Stephen MacKinnon for the first time tells the full story of Wuhan's defense and of how the refugee experience surrounding it led to new directions in the history of modern Chinese culture, society, and politics. His narrative balances portrayals of the sweeping changes that took place in the social and cultural life of Wuhan's refugee population, including toleration of political diversity and a free press, with accounts of the extraordinary military developments that made it all possible. The book features photographs taken at that time, including a selection by renowned photojournalist Robert Capa, who was among the prominent writers and artists who came to witness events in Wuhan during its short, vibrant reign as China's wartime capital.

Stephen R. MacKinnon is Professor of History at Arizona State University.