In this lecture, Dr. Liliane Willens will discuss ‘The White Russian Diaspora in Asia, 1900-1949’, focusing on the lives of the Russian Orthodox settlers in Harbin in the early 1900s who worked for the Chinese Eastern Railroad; the flight during the Bolshevik Revolution of Russian refugees to Harbin; later to Shanghai and the difficulties these émigrés encountered prior to, during and after the Japanese occupation; finally their hurried departure to the Philippines in early 1949 before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Liliane Willens, of Russian parentage, was born and raised in the former French Concession of Shanghai where she attended a French lycée.  She, her parents and siblings – all stateless - experienced World War II under the Japanese occupation, the bombing by American planes and the return of the Chiang Kai-shek government.  Because of difficulties to immigrate to the United States, she remained in Shanghai during the first two years of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.  

When she came to the United States, she studied at Boston University where she received an undergraduate degree, a M.A. and a Ph.D. in French language and literature.  Dr. Willens taught these subjects at Boston College and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  She published a book on Voltaire and a number of articles on 18th century France. 

After retirement Liliane gave talks on cruise ships sailing around the world, and now lectures on China and on her book ‘Stateless in Shanghai’ in the greater Washington, DC area, across the country and overseas.  

After the Q&A session, Liliane will sign her book.

RSVP: to RAS Bookings at: bookings@royalasiaticsociety.org.cn

ENTRANCE:  Members 70 RMB, non-members 100 RMB

Includes a glass of wine or soft drink

MEMBERSHIP applications and membership renewals will be available at this event.

WEBSITE:  www.royalasiaticsociety.org.cn