Description
Book SynopsisThe Jacquinot Zone, in Shanghai, is the first example in history of a successful safe zone that provided protection and security to half a million Chinese refugees living in a battle zone during wartime.
Trade Review"This is a compact, well researched biography of the French Jesuit Father Robert Charles Emile Jacquinot de Besange . . . Drawing on archival research in different part of the world and written in a simple, clear prose, this book makes a significant contribution to the study of World War II in China, It also draws attention to the subject of refugees in modern warfare by bringing to light the important figure of Father Jacquinot." -- Sigrid Schmalzer *
American Historical Review *
"The fascinating story of a French Jesuit organizing human relief in war-torn China for almost 30 years has not been told so far . . . The author, China expert at the Library of Congress, has thoroughly checked all available archives for her study, from Jesuit documents to French and American diplomatic papers and finally Chinese and Japanese holdings." -- Bernd Martin *
Internationales Asienforum *
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The Jacquinot Safe Zone recount the remarkably successful efforts of a French Jesuit missionary to establish a part of the city of Shanghai as a refuge for Chinese civilians from a war raging between Japanese and Chinese forces in the area." -- Ernest P. Young *
Church History *
"Consulting an impressive range of multi-lingual archival sources, Ristaino delivers the story of a forgotten man and his remarkable achievement in setting up a successful model of safety zones that protected several hundred thousand Chinese civilians during WWII. This new work in the field of Chinese history highlights a topic that has been overlooked in the study of the War of Resistance." -- Lu Liu * University of Tennessee *
"The story of Father Jacquinot is fascinating. His life and work intersect so many currents in world history. Ristaino effectively contextualizes the circumstances involving the incident in Nanjing, and this is one of the best sources in English I have seen on the human costs of the Sino-Japanese War." -- Parks Coble * University of Nebraska *
"This valuable volume uncovers, in intriguing details, new dimensions of human endeavors under Shanghia's unique circumstances during China's War of Resistance against Japan...Ristaino has produced a carefully researched volume with a powerful message—namely, that when caught in a crossfire, not even the noblest designs of life-saving neutrality could escape the compromise of complicity and collaberation." --
Catholic Historical ReviewTable of ContentsCONTENTS Preface 000 1. The Early Years 000 2. Arrival in China 000 3. Shanghai in Torment 000 4. The Jacquinot Zone 000 5. The Jacquinot Zone Copied 000 6. Raising Funds Abroad 000 7. Life in the Jacquinot Zone 000 8. Final Years and Legacy 000 9. Epilogue 000 Appendixes 000 Notes 000 Bibliography 000 Index 000
