Isabel Crook devoted her long life to making a new China
The Canadian anthropologist and teacher died on August 20th, aged 107
From the start, Isabel Crook was at the heart of things. In October 1949, riding in an army truck, she celebrated the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Tiananmen Square in newly liberated Beijing. She and her husband David were almost the only Westerners; it was the most joyful moment she had ever watched. The processions of soldiers and civilians went on for six hours. Every two hours or so she had to dart through the marchers to feed her new baby, Carl, and dart back, eager not to miss too much.
This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “Building revolution”
Obituary September 9th 2023
From the September 9th 2023 edition
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