In every war there are prisoners, and in the terrible confines they are subjected to, they often have to choose between humiliation and humanity, between buckling-under and fighting back, and between surrender and survival. Making the right choice requires deep moral belief, and it requires a writer of the stature of Ha Jin to give us that moral perspective.
Ha Jin is a National Book Award Winner and former member of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. In his new book, “War Trash,” he tells the story of Chinese prisoners in a U.S.-run POW camp during the Korean War. Two generations and half a world away, the tale still has a strong echo to the historical moment we are living in now.
Hear a conversation with Ha Jin about war, captivity, conflict, and psychological warfare in a POW camp.
Guests:
Ha Jin, 1999 National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award winner for his novel, Waiting. His new book is War Trash.
