Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History, (Paperback)

from Kellswitch

I found this book fascinating and educational look at the development of Hawaii as a state, racism both past and somewhat present, the creation of an iconic character and the history of a fascinating man who became one of Hawaii's most decorated police officers. I enjoyed it and learned a lot but...

from Mrs_McGreevy

There was an actual person that Charlie Chan was based on: Chang Apana, a detective in Hawaii. Yunte Huang uses the biography of Chang Apana, and the creation and enduring popularity of Charlie Chan to discuss issues of Chinese identity, both in America and in China. Fascinating, and a good read,...

from JeffreyMarks

An interesting look at the man who wrote the Charlie Chan novels as well as the man who served as the inspiration for them. A bit rambling at times, the book does a good job of tying all the pieces together.

from LJT

The book, written by an American born in China who immigrated to the US as a young adult and became a professor of English, uses the fictional story of detective Charlie Chan as a base for a rather scattered but fascinating exploration of the history Chinese in America and a discussion of whether...

from Cyndecat

An excellent telling of the story of how Charlie Chan came about in books and movies , also a biography of sorts of Chang Apana and author Earl Derr Biggers and a look at the Chinese in the history of America. A verey enjoyable read!