Through a wealth of primary and secondary sources and a balanced consideration of the conflicting views that surround Mao’s leadership, this book provides a thorough exploration of Mao’s political and private life. Key features of the second edition include a detailed analysis of the Long March, an account of Sino-Japanese relations and an assessment of Mao’s ongoing legacy.
This biography will be essential reading for anyone interested in Mao and the politics of twentieth-century China.
Michael Lynch is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Leicester and specialises in European and Far Eastern history. He has contributed to a number of television documentaries on modern historical themes, and his publications include Hitler (2013), Authoritarian States (2015) and China 1939–1997 (2016).