Daughter of the Dragon - Anna May Wong's Rendezvous with American History

Born into the steam and starch of a Chinese laundry, Anna May Wong (1905-1961) emerged from turn-of-the-century Los Angeles to become Old Hollywood-s most famous Chinese American actress, a screen siren who captivated global audiences and signed her publicity photos-with a touch of defiance--Orientally yours.- Now, more than a century after her birth, Yunte Huang narrates Wong-s tragic life story, retracing her journey from Chinatown to silent-era Hollywood, and from Weimar Berlin to decadent, prewar Shanghai, and capturing American television in its infancy. As Huang shows, Wong-s rendezvous with history features a remarkable parade of characters, including a smitten Walter Benjamin and (an equally smitten) Marlene Dietrich. Challenging the parodically racist perceptions of Wong as a -Dragon Lady,- -Madame Butterfly,- or -China Doll,- Huang-s biography becomes a truly resonant work of history that reflects the raging anti-Chinese xenophobia, unabashed sexism, and ageism toward women t