Biography of Mao Zedong

Author: Philip Short
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: There are many biographies of Mao Zedong, but Philip Short's Mao: A Life might be the best. It is thoroughly researched, rich in detail, and written in a fluent style. The book not only introduces readers to the brilliant and approachable side of this great leader but also presents a panoramic view of turbulent China in the 20th century. Philip Short's Mao: A Life is like an unrolling Ming Dynasty scroll of China. The book covers everything from a Confucian youth, the Xinhai Revolution, warlord conflicts, ideological disputes, the Comintern's takeover, the May Fourth Incident, breaking free from the crossfire—from Jinggangshan to Jiangxi, Futian: shedding naivety, the Chairman of the Soviet Government, searching for the Azure Dragon: the Long March north, Yan'an interlude: from sage to emperor, the paper tiger, the naive magician, the immortal meditation, catastrophe, and unfulfilled ambitions.