The comedy of the situation is translated without remark, if indeed it is even noticed. The effectiveness of her novel is what concerns the writer. This is typical of the breathless and sometimes self-centered nature of the book as a whole.
In addition, the prose, in this translation, is on occasion less than inspired. Consider the following as a specimen of what the reader at times has to endure: "When the spring arrived and windows were open, you could see the deep blue heavens, green mountains, beautiful flowers and plants, and little birds flitting to and fro in the sky. Truly, it was a village of green mountains and luxuriant water, a paradise to make one drunk on its beauty."
Lily and Barry Brissman may retort that this is a literal translation of the original, and unthinking sentimentality and cliche in the manner of this short passage may well characterize this prolific author. But in English this is prose to glaze any and every eye.
The truth of the matter would seem to be that Xie was a remarkable woman of action, who then recounted her doings in books like this one, rather than a writer anxious to achieve literary perfection for its own sake.
Frankness, honesty, openness and naturalness are the qualities she is quick to notice and to admire in others, and these are the things she strives to embody in her own life and prose style. The problem is that other people's feelings don't end up getting much space in her autobiography. For the most part it's a record of her own achievements and heroic successes against the odds.
This, in other words, is a brand of outspoken feminism and uncompromising, up-to-the moment radicalism that will be a tonic to some and slightly wearying to others. There's no doubt, though, that when Xie describes her sexual independence, notably her refusal to continue with an arranged marriage despite having gone along with the actual ceremonies, not a few hearts in modern Taiwan will reach out for her in sympathy and admiration.
Elsewhere, she is briefly imprisoned for buying books written by communist sympathizers when in the wrong part of the country, and takes up a teaching post for which she is not really qualified, instantly winning the hearts of her students by her openness, friendliness, and leadership in rallying them against oppression of any and every kind.
Despite its shortcomings as literature, this is a spirited record by a highly independent woman. There will be some women in Taiwan who consider themselves less independent even today than Xie Bingying managed to be in China more than half a century ago.
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