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

by Yunte Huang

Paper Book, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

363.25092

Genres

Collection

Crime, Law Enforcement

Publication

W. W. Norton & Company (2010), Edition: First Edition, 384 pages

Description

A biography of cinematic hero Charlie Chan, based on the real-life Chinese immigrant detective, Chang Apana, whose bravado inspired mystery writer Earl Derr Biggers to depict his fictional sleuth as a wisecracking and wise investigator rather than a stereotype.

User reviews

LibraryThing member 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

Charlie Chan represents American bigotry or is instead an American hero. He provides biographies of the creator of Charlie Chan, of the Chinese-American police detective in Hawaii that was the inspiration for the fictional detective, of the Swedish actor who most performed the role in the movies, and the story of Hawaii itself. Interspersed are bits of his own history. The book reminds us that, within the lifetime of some of us, the "melting pot" had a "whites only" sign. Highly recommended.

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LibraryThing member aulsmith

As described in other reviews, the author tells the story of Chan in American culture using various strands of data: the life of the real Hawaiian detective, the life of the author of the Charlie Chan books, discussion of Chan in popular culture. He even diverges into the story of Sax Roamer, the

creator of Fu Manchu.

Although all the pieces were engagingly written, the book as a whole failed to hold my attention.

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LibraryThing member 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!

LibraryThing member 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.

LibraryThing member 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

at the end I still don't see how Chang Apana influenced the character of Charlie Chan.

It was still well worth reading and showed how so many different factors influence our popular culture and how we in turn are influenced back and reflected back by our popular culture. Many times in unpleasant ways.

The author has a very accessible style and never stayed on one subject thread long enough to make you loose interest or long enough to loose the thread he was weaving between the different though connected stories.

I learned many things I never knew before, was influenced to watch my first Charlie Chan movie based on this book and will soon try reading Earl Derr Biggers books as well and now at least I have a much better understanding of the character and peoples various reactions to him.

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LibraryThing member 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,

too.

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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq

First his real name was Chang Apana and he was of Chinese descent born in Hawaii in the 1860's. He returned to China @ 3 years of age, but was sent back to Hawaii w/ his uncle and worked as a Paniolo (Hawaiian Cowboy). Later he worked w/ the first Hawaiian ASPCA and then became a Detective w/ the

Hawaiian Police force.

As for being "Charlie Chan", Earl Dere Biggers had already been writing about the fictitious Chan before ever hearing about or meeting Chang Apana. Their coming together was merely a fluke of fate.

I was very disappointed in this book, there was actually very little about Chang Apana, but more about Biggers, Chan and the rampant abuse of non-white people & racism that was allowed to run amok throughout Hawaii. There was also a lot of side information about Hollywood & the Charlie Chan movies which came to be after Biggers died.

I really did not like this book..... I wanted to know more about the "Real Life Charlie Chan".

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