The book offers a vivid and intimate portrait of post-war China through the eyes of an American educator. Arriving in 1947, she takes up a post as a professor of English at the renowned Southwest Associated University (西南联大) in Kunming. For three transformative years, Drake lives, teaches, and observes amidst a nation on the cusp of change. Her diary entries capture not only the daily rhythms of academic and social life, but also the complexities of a country emerging from war and heading into revolution. With keen observation and heartfelt reflection, Drake provides a rare firsthand account of life in southwestern China during a pivotal historical moment—revealing the warmth of her students, the challenges of cross-cultural understanding, and the resilience of a people navigating uncertain times.

1968, printed in Colorado, red leather, maps on paste downs, hardcover, no dust jacket, good condition.