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About the Author: Rena Krasno was born in Shanghai, China, in 1923 and lived there until 1949. Her parents, stateless Russian Jews from Siberia, arrived in China in the early 2oth century. In her professional life, Krasno worked as a simultaneous freelance interpreter for international organizations in Europe and Asia. Krasno has lectured at Stanford University, U.C.L.A., U.C. Berkeley, the Commonwealth Club, and other well-known institutions in America, Asia, and Europe. She is currently Public Affairs Officer of the Sino-Judaic Institute in Menlo Park, California, as well as a member of the Editorial Committee of their publication, Points East. Krasno was featured in several documentaries including the Chinese one (Sanctuary Shanghai. Chen Yifei, 1999). Nine of Rena's books have been published, including Floating Lanterns and Golden Shrines (Pacific View Press, Berkeley, a winner of 2002 Benjamin Franklin Publishers Award). Three of her published books have been translated into Chinese.
"It is hard to express the joy that overwhelmed me. Back home to Shanghai? At the same time my heart was gripped with apprehension. My parents had passed away, all my friends were gone and Shanghai must have become a totally different city. As we were about to land, I trembled with excitement but the moment my feet touched the earth, I knew I was at home."