This is an auction for MAO TSE-TUNG: THE UNKNOWN STORY by Jung Chang & Jon Halliday.

"In the epilogue to her biography of Mao Tse-tung, Jung Chang laments that "today, Mao's portrait and his corpse still dominate Tiananmen Square in the heart of the Chinese capital." For Chang, author of Wild Swans, this is an affront, not just to history, but to decency. It is clear that Chang is writing to honour the millions of Chinese who fell victim to Mao's drive for power in his 50-plus-year struggle to dominate China and the 20th century political landscape. From the outset, Chang is determined to shatter the "myth" of Mao, and succeeds with the force, not just of moral outrage, but of facts. The result is a book that paints Mao as a brutal totalitarian, a thug, who unleashed Stalin-like purges of millions, all for his personal gain. Sino-Soviet relations, the strengths and weakness of Chiang Kai-shek, the Japanese invasion of China, World War II, the Korean War, the disastrous Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the Vietnam War, Nixon's visit, and the constant, unending purges - all provide the backdrop for Mao's political maneuverings and betrayals. No one escaped unharmed: rivals, families, peasants, city dwellers, soldiers, and lifelong allies such as Chou En-lai were sacrificed to Mao's ambition and paranoia. Chang's biggest fear is that Mao will escape the global condemnation and infamy he deserves. This astonishing book will go a long way to ensure that the pendulum of history will adjust itself accordingly."

Hardback 2005.

814 pages + 32 pages of photographs.

Very good condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95, or $6.95 by tracked mail. If you are on rural delivery and want tracked mail, the shipping cost will be $9.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.