Spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture. In this sharply drawn account jonathan spence, award winning historian and author of acclaimed books about both the old and the new china, brings to life this. Jonathan spences biography of mao is concise yet revealing and detailed at the same time. The hunan first normal school and the creation of chinese. The qing dynasty, which had ruled china with a firm hand for two hundred and fifty years, was falling apart, no. But his biographers are still inclined to make him a largerthanlife figure, even though it is no longer possible to ignore the horrors he inflicted on china. He was sterling professor of history at yale university from 1993 to 2008. The complex persona of chairman mao remembered withhate, awe, and even reverencecalls for what the boston globe has termed jonathan spence s engaging blend of history, literature, and biography. A life by philip short and mao zedong by jonathan spence.
Mao zedong was born on december 26, 1893 in a small village. In his youth, he advocated swimming as a way of strengthening the bodies of chinese citizens, and one of his earliest poems celebrated the joys of beating a wake through the waves. Publication date 2001 topics mao, zedong, 18931976, heads of state china. A life kindle edition by spence, jonathan d politics. Jonathan d spence this intimate portrait of mao zedong, one of the most formidable and elusive rulers in modern history, introduces the essential background about the chinese leader, including his relations with. Mao zedong collected works 19171949 these documents were compiled, edited and published by the u. Chicago tribune from humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast country torn apart by years of weak leadership, colonialism, and war.
Jonathan spence, author of 11 books on chinese history, provides both a panoramic portrait of china and a private portrait of the man at the center of so many historic events. Jonathan dermot spence born 11 august 1936 is an englishborn american historian and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mao zedong. The text covers all of mao s life from birth to death, and for the most part treats each stage of his life as worthy of equal attention. Mao was one of the most influential and controversial political figures of the 20th century, in china and abroad. His most widely read book is the search for modern china, a survey of the last several hundred years of chinese history based on his popular course at yale. Jonathan spence is always worth reading on matters chinese. For general narrative or reference, see jonathan spence, the. Mao zedong left a complicated legacy for his people and the rest of the world to comprehend. Spence uses social, political, intellectual, and cultural history to provide good background information to maos life and also to explain the impacts of his policies. The text covers all of maos life from birth to death, and for the most part treats each stage of his life as worthy of equal attention. Mao zedong was born in 1893, as the last imperial dynasty of china was approaching its demise, and died in 1976, as a powerful communist china was entering dctente with the us. By the time he died in 1976, he had profoundly changed the course. I used to read or peruse them back theni remember reading.
In this sharply drawn account jonathan spence, awardwinning historian and author of acclaimed books about the old and the new china, brings to life this modern. Shorts massive study benefits from the intimate portrayal of the private mao revealed in the. A life by philip short and mao zedong by jonathan spence two new biographies of the cuddly dictator are nearly definitive but one is 600 pages longer. Works of mao zedong in pdf selected works of mao tsetung scans of volumes produced by foreign languages press, beijing. Considered a revolutionary theorist, a strong political leader and a powerful statesman, zedong was also principally responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of his own countrymen. As the era of maos rule is eclipsed by the great economic strides following deng xiaopings reforms, it becomes harder to judge maos place in history. Now, you will be happy that at this time mao zedong pdf is available at our online library. Jonathan spence s mao zedong is an effective biography that covers much content in few pages. Jonathan spence is an awardwinning author whose books have. Works of mao zedong in pdf marxists internet archive. As the era of mao s rule is eclipsed by the great economic strides following deng xiaopings reforms, it becomes harder to judge mao s place in history.
In 1964, published little red book, with quotations from chairman mao zedong. Jun 16, 2008 spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture to create an illuminating picture of mao. Mao zedong was born in late 1893, at a time when china was sliding into one of. Certainly, one cannot expect too much from a biography of one of the major political figures of the 20th century that offers only 178 pages of text and 10 pages of endnotes. Certainly, one cannot expect too much from a biography of one of the major political figures of the 20th century that offers only. Volume v was scanned, also by, from the 1977 1st englishlanguage edition published by. This sharply drawn and insightful account brings to life this. From humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast country torn apart by years of weak leadership, foreign imperialism and war.
Mao zedong was a marxist theorist, revolutionary, and, from 1949 to 1959, the first chairman of the peoples republic of china. Jonathan spences biography of mao was my first experience with the new penguin lives series, and i was unsure what to expect. Two excellent textbooks are jonathan spence, the search for modern china. The millions who died as a result of the purges underpinned by these stringent social regulations were the ambitious, the thoughtful, the successful in other words, all who might oppose the will of the great helmsman, great teacher, great leader, and the red red sun, mao zedong. Governments joint publications research service jprs in 1978. When mao zedong was thirteen, he had a huge fight with his strict father during. Mao zedong was born on december 26 in the small village of shaoshan in the province of hunan. Chicago tribune from humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast country torn apart by. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mao zedong. Publication date 1999 topics mao, zedong, 18931976, heads of state china biography. I used to read or peruse them back theni remember reading the one on woolf in full and maybe. Jonathan dermot spence born 11 august 1936 is an englishborn american historian and public intellectual specialising in chinese history. Using sources not readily available, he penetrates the complex persona of chairman mao to provide an intimate view of a chilling enigma. Jonathan d spence from humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast country torn apart by years of weak leadership, colonialism, and war.
Mao from humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast countr. Volumes i through iv were scanned by from the 1965 edition published by foreign languages press, beijing. Jonathan spence brings great erudition to the story of this flawed colossus. Pdf are you searching for mao zedong by alexander adams, jonathan spence books. A life kindle edition by spence, jonathan d download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jonathan spences mao zedong is an effective biography that covers much content in few pages. Mao, now seventeen, watched as the revolution of 1911 erupted in china. Aug 29, 2006 spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture to create an illuminating picture of mao. This one left me much more informed about maos life prior to the communist takeover in 1949 but not as informed as i would have liked about maos intellectual. This intimate portrait of mao zedong, one of the most formidable and elusive rulers in modern history, introduces the essential background about the chinese leader, including his relations with family, friends, and confidential assistants, as well as hisyouthful writings, poems, letters, and drafts of speeches.
Mao zedong was born on december 26, 1893 in a small. In this slim volume, historian of china spence yale. Jonathan spence, timothy cheek, and shaun breslin, are. Major events in the life of a revolutionary leader all terms appearing in bold are included in the glossary. Mao zedong his ruthless vision united a fractured people and inspired revolutions far beyond chinas borders by jonathan d. The shortness of the form enablesor requiresspence to accelerate the pace of maos life, thus adding. I have read several of the penguin lives minibiographies and enjoyed them all for what they are. Chicago tribunefrom humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast country torn apart by years of weak leadership, colonialism, and war. With our complete resources, you could find mao zedong pdf or just found any kind of books for your readings everyday.
Appointed as mao s successor, but died in a plane crash in 1971 scholars unsure if it was an accident or planned. About mao zedong spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture to create an illuminating picture of mao. He is particularly enlightening on mao s early yearsit is nearly twothirds through the book before mao stands on the walls of the forbidden. Jonathan spence captures mao in all his paradoxical grandeur and sheds light on the radical transformation he unleashed that still reverberates in china today. From humble beginnings in rural hunan, mao zedong became the great helmsman of communist china. From humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron first a vast country torn apart by years of weak leadership, foreign imperialism and war. Shorts massive study benefits from the intimate portrayal of the private mao. Spence superbly illuminates mao, a leader who, at a watershed moment in history, turned the classic chineseconcept of reform through reversal into. Mao zedong, principal chinese marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his countrys communist revolution and served as chairman chief of state of the peoples republic of china from 1949 until his death in 1976.