Dragon seed
(Book)

This novel describes the lives of Chinese peasants in a village outside Nanjing, China just prior to and during the 1937 Japanese invasion. Some characters seek protection in the city while others become collaborators. This story focuses on the characters' reactions to the events in Nanking. The Nanking Massacre (commonly called the Rape of Nanking) involved months of horrific violence by the Imperial Japanese Army as they conquered the city. The author opines that Japanese troops passing through China feel no responsibility for their conduct as they won't be present to be confronted after the violence is over