Jonathan spences mao zedong is an effective biography that covers much content in few pages. Jonathan spence s mao zedong is an effective biography that covers much content in few pages. I used to read or peruse them back theni remember reading. He was sterling professor of history at yale university from 1993 to 2008. 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. Mao zedong was born on december 26 in the small village of shaoshan in the province of hunan. Major events in the life of a revolutionary leader all terms appearing in bold are included in the glossary. Using sources not readily available, he penetrates the complex persona of chairman mao to provide an intimate view of a chilling enigma. Certainly, one cannot expect too much from a biography of one of the major political figures of the 20th century that offers only. Pdf are you searching for mao zedong by alexander adams, jonathan spence books.
Jun 16, 2008 spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture to create an illuminating picture of mao. 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. Jonathan spence is always worth reading on matters chinese. 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.
According to jprs, these documents are selected speeches, articles, essays, reports, letters, interviews, declarations, decrees, telegrams, poems, and inscriptions of mao tse. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read mao zedong. Jonathan spence, timothy cheek, and shaun breslin, are. Aug 29, 2006 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. 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. Governments joint publications research service jprs in 1978. Collected works of mao on pdf marxists internet archive.
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. For general narrative or reference, see jonathan spence, the. Jonathan dermot spence born 11 august 1936 is an englishborn american historian and. 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. Mao, now seventeen, watched as the revolution of 1911 erupted in china. Volumes i through iv were scanned by from the 1965 edition published by foreign languages press, beijing.
Now, you will be happy that at this time mao zedong pdf is available at our online library. Appointed as mao s successor, but died in a plane crash in 1971 scholars unsure if it was an accident or planned. 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. 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. The shortness of the form enablesor requiresspence to accelerate the pace of maos life, thus adding. Works of mao zedong in pdf marxists internet archive. Mao from humble origins in the provinces, mao zedong rose to absolute power, unifying with an iron fist a vast countr. Jonathan spence s biography of mao was my first experience with the new penguin lives series, and i was unsure what to expect. In 1964, published little red book, with quotations from chairman mao zedong. 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.
This sharply drawn and insightful account brings to life this. Jonathan spence is an awardwinning author whose books have. With our complete resources, you could find mao zedong pdf or just found any kind of books for your readings everyday. Mao zedong collected works 19171949 these documents were compiled, edited and published by the u. Spence superbly illuminates mao, a leader who, at a watershed moment in history, turned the classic chineseconcept of reform through reversal into. In this slim volume, historian of china spence yale. 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. December 26, 1893 september 9, 1976, also known as chairman mao, was a chinese communist revolutionary who became the founding father of the peoples republic of china prc, which he ruled as the chairman of the communist party of china from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976.
When mao zedong was thirteen, he had a huge fight with his strict father during. Jonathan spences biography of mao is concise yet revealing and detailed at the same time. Volume v was scanned, also by, from the 1977 1st englishlanguage edition published by. 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. I have read several of the penguin lives minibiographies and enjoyed them all for what they are. 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 was one of the most influential and controversial political figures of the 20th century, in china and abroad. Spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture to create an illuminating picture of mao. The qing dynasty, which had ruled china with a firm hand for two hundred and fifty years, was falling apart, no. 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. 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. Shorts massive study benefits from the intimate portrayal of the private mao revealed in the. Mao zedong his ruthless vision united a fractured people and inspired revolutions far beyond chinas borders by jonathan d.
Jonathan spences biography of mao was my first experience with the new penguin lives series, and i was unsure what to expect. A life kindle edition by spence, jonathan d download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. Two excellent textbooks are jonathan spence, the search for modern china. 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. Publication date 1999 topics mao, zedong, 18931976, heads of state china biography. Mao zedong was a marxist theorist, revolutionary, and, from 1949 to 1959, the first chairman of the peoples republic of china.
Jonathan dermot spence born 11 august 1936 is an englishborn american historian and public intellectual specialising in chinese history. Mao zedong left a complicated legacy for his people and the rest of the world to comprehend. From humble beginnings in rural hunan, mao zedong became the great helmsman of communist china. 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 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. Mao zedong, report on an investigation of the peasant movement in hunan, march. Works of mao zedong in pdf selected works of mao tsetung scans of volumes produced by foreign languages press, beijing. Mao zedong was born in late 1893, at a time when china was sliding into one of the bleakest and most humiliating decades in its long history. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. Publication date 2001 topics mao, zedong, 18931976, heads of state china. Jonathan spence brings great erudition to the story of this flawed colossus. Mao zedong was born in late 1893, at a time when china was sliding into one of. About mao zedong spence draws upon his extensive knowledge of chinese politics and culture to create an illuminating picture of mao. 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 village. Mao zedong by jonathan spence 1999 posted on 20160406 by thelittleman i came across this short biography while perusing the works of jonathan d.
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. Mao zedong was born on december 26, 1893 in a small. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mao zedong. Lin was accused of betraying mao, and some claimed he had planned a coup detat.
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