Winter Melon (autographed) by William Wong Foey

The Helen and Joe Chew Foundation carries a variety of rare autographed books by local 19th Century Chinese American descendant William Wong Foey. William’s grandfather, Wong Foey arrive in 1862. The cover is also the original artwork of William Wong Foey. If you’re looking for a special collection piece of work with an authentic signature, you’ve come to the right place.

Winter Melon is staged in 1937. The Japanese Army has invaded China, creating a tidal wave of death and destruction in their wake. Upon reaching the provisional capital of Nanking, they begin the systematic rape, torture, and murder of hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens. Winter Melon is the epic story of Gong Ree, a feisty seventeen-year-old girl who is brutalized and loses everything precious to her at the hands of the savage Sergeant Suzuki. Decades later, Ree is now a famous artist. She is invited to a ceremony in Nanking commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the Nanking Holocaust. There she comes face to face with the monster of her nightmares, Sergeant Suzuki, who is now posing as a prominent Chinese businessman. Ree conspires to kill Suzuki but finds herself wrestling with her conscience. Should she kill Suzuki...or not? Follow Ree on her journey in this story of survival, resilience, and redemption.

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