Stephen Soong (1919-96) and his wife, Mae Fong Soong (1919-2007). [Photo provided to China Daily]

He got to know Qian, Fu and Wu in his youth in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and developed a lifelong friendship.

In the 1940s, when Shanghai was occupied by Japanese troops, Stephen Soong and several friends organized a troupe to stage plays, promoting anti-Japanese ideology. He also created a literary magazine and wrote articles.

In 1949, the family moved to Hong Kong, and Stephen Soong worked as chief editor for translation works at the Hong Kong office of the United States Information Service. It was during this time that the couple got to know Chang.

From 1956 to 1967, Stephen Soong worked as a playwright supervisor in Hong Kong movie giants MP&GI and Shore Pictures.

In 1941, Stephen Soong started suffering from respiratory and lung disease. When his health condition worsened in 1967, he quit his busy job in the movie industry and later worked as assistant to the president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The work in the university was not demanding. He entered a productive period writing literary works and criticism. He also initiated several literary and translation magazines, including Renditions.

In 1996, he died of bronchitis in Hong Kong.

Chen Zishan, a prominent critic and an expert on Chang's work, says the book is written with a close attachment to the subject, but is also objective.

He praises the book as an interesting read and an important research document.