A humble past

Harvard pioneer's book tells the story of his upbringing in rural China. Hong Xiao reports from New York.

When He Jiang started to tell one of his Harvard professors about growing up in rural China, the professor suggested he write down his story. He, the first Chinese to deliver a Harvard University commencement address, has now published that memoir.

Written in Chinese, the book is titled Zouchu Zijide Tiankong (Walking Out a Way of My Own) and runs to 200,000 characters. It records the different aspects of rural life in China at the end of 20th century. The book's English version will be published in the United States shortly.