China's rocket heroes' story gets an English edition

An upcoming book, Letters Alive: Season Two, published by China Citic Press, stands as an evidence of this.

Featuring Chinese letters from as early as 93 BC to 2017, the book expresses Chinese people's concern, love, patriotism and emotions and highlights their suggestions to make the country better.

Based on a hit TV program, the 49 selected letters are categorized into eight themes. Senders and recipients include emperors, celebrities, historical figures and writers.

Wang Yeyun, editor of the book, says that the book contains letters that are beautifully written, which represent a broader picture of China over the course of 2,000 years.

"The most important thing is that through the details and the words, we see Chinese people from different eras share something in common: their tastes, emotions, attitudes toward hardship, aesthetics and their moral principles," Wang says.

A letter Sima Qian sent to his friend in 93 BC tells of his resolve to finish his history book despite having been castrated, imprisoned and sentenced to death.

Another letter in the book from 89 BC is by the emperor, Han Wu, who expresses regret for leading his people into war and hardship.

Among the famous letters highlighted by Wang is the one Lin Juemin wrote to his wife, Chen Yiying, before his sacrifice during the 1911 Revolution in April that year.

"My dearest Yiying, seeing this letter is like meeting me," Lin writes. He tells his wife she must have known of his death upon receiving the letter.

The book offers brief introductions of the couple, background, interpretations and reviews to help readers get a better sense of how a hero chooses to die for his country, although he cherishes his wife and family.

"I was wrong that I didn't tell you about my true aspiration," he writes. "I fear that you would have worried for me. I have hundreds of reasons to choose to die for my country, but I could not bear that you'd be sad for my sacrifice.

"I was lucky to marry you but unlucky to be born in today's China. I just can't simply enjoy my life and stay out of all of this."

The rest is history.