The Lucky Son

Li Cunxin captivated the world with his unforgettable memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer – the extraordinary rags-to-riches story of how a poor peasant boy, the sixth of seven sons, was plucked from his classroom to train at the Beijing Dance Academy – a lucky ticket out of poverty, out of communist China – to become one of the world’s most acclaimed ballet dancers. Li was indeed his niang’s lucky son, and in his long-awaited sequel he reveals what happened next in this life that cheated fate, and wrestles with the blessings and responsibility of good fortune. As a celebrated artist living in the West, Li is torn between two worlds and haunted by memories of his humble beginnings in rural China and the family he was forced to leave behind, all while building his own family with his former dance partner and beloved wife, Mary. Together they choose to make Australia home, and Li reinvents himself in one brilliant career after another, as principal artist for the Australian Ballet, savvy stockbroker, bestselling author, star corporate speaker and legendary artistic director of a new-generation ballet company. Along the way, Li shares not just the story of his life in the West, but his hard-won life lessons on love, learning, leadership and legacy, and the power and possibility of dreaming big. Remarkable and inspiring, The Lucky Son is a joyous book about life, family, following your heart – and gratitude. 'A joyous book about gratitude, persistence and the continuing puzzle of Belonging … The Lucky Son is a reminder that the best reward isn’t applause; it’s in the recognition of how to live and how to love your people, and how you keep building and hoping, even when luck seems to run out.' Limelight