ABSTRACT
Hsieh Ping-ying had successful careers in journalism and university teaching and represents in many ways the courage and independent spirit of the new Chinese woman in the twentieth century. In her youth she was a rebel; she refused to bind her feet, was expelled from school for organizing demonstrations against Japanese imperialism, joined the National Revolutionary Army during the Northern Expedition against the warlords. Hsieh's appeal to readers comes largely from her frank and vivid portrayal of her personal experiences and emotions. The following excerpt from Girl Rebel is an excellent example of her talent for rendering her own experiences as both uniquely personal and representative of her times. This excerpt begins with the twenty-one-year-old Hsieh returning home after having served in a propaganda team during the Northern Expedition in 1926-27, and it ends with her being confined by her conservative parents. 'The Family Prison' is not merely metaphorical.
