Mao
Power and Contradiction
Kerry BrownChairman Mao’s extraordinary life and complex legacy laid bare.
Mao Zedong lived one of the most epic and influential lives of the twentieth century. His impact on the People’s Republic of China was vast. Half a century after his passing, he remains a divisive and controversial figure. This book provides an accessible narrative of Mao's life, from the fall of the Qing dynasty in the early part of the twentieth century to the long years in which he struggled not only to ensure the Communist Party of China survived but that it then came to power after a civil war with the nationalists. Mao's tragic failures as ruler were some of the worst to ever befall a modern society, while his personal life remains a source of intense interest. Clear-eyed and non-partisan, this is the first accessible biography of Mao to appear in English for some time.
Chairman Mao’s extraordinary life and complex legacy laid bare.
Mao Zedong lived one of the most epic and influential lives of the twentieth century. His impact on the People’s Republic of China was vast. Half a century after his passing, he remains a divisive and controversial figure. This book provides an accessible narrative of Mao's life, from the fall of the Qing dynasty in the early part of the twentieth century to the long years in which he struggled not only to ensure the Communist Party of China survived but that it then came to power after a civil war with the nationalists. Mao's tragic failures as ruler were some of the worst to ever befall a modern society, while his personal life remains a source of intense interest. Clear-eyed and non-partisan, this is the first accessible biography of Mao to appear in English for some time.
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This accessible and informative book demonstrates Kerry Brown’s open-minded evaluation of Mao and his extensive knowledge of him.
'Mobo Gao, Adelaide University
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Kerry Brown provides a wonderfully insightful analysis of one of the most influential and complex figures of the twentieth century, Mao Zedong. Brown weaves together Mao’s life with the unfolding drama of the Chinese communist movement. He highlights the influence of Chinese history and culture on Mao’s evolution of Marxism—Marxist Daoism. The book serves as an excellent introduction to the man, the revolution that he led, and its global ramifications.
'Tony Saich, Harvard Kennedy School, author of From Rebel to Ruler: One Hundred Years of the Chinese Communist Party
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Using a wide range of scholarly sources, Kerry Brown describes how Mao Zedong still influences China today. Fifty years after his death, some of the legends are fading but his ruthless rise to power and consistent nationalism continue to dominate. This clear and very readable account sets out his extraordinary life and personality and the persistence of his ideas.
'Frances Wood, Former Curator of Chinese Collections, British Library
Introduction
Chapter One: Mao’s Early Life, 1893–1927
Chapter Two: Mao’s Rise to Power, 1927–45
Chapter Three: Mao in Power: The Years of Success, 1945–56
Chapter Four: Mao in the Era of High Maoism, 1956–66
Chapter Five: Mao and the Cultural Revolution, 1966–76
Chapter Six: Mao’s Legacy
Chapter Seven: Mao Zedong Thought
Chapter Eight: Mao and the World
Suggested Reading
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index
Kerry Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College London. He is the author of 24 books on modern China, including The Taiwan Story (2024).