Mao the Unknown Story

The most authoritative life of the Chinese leader every written, Mao: The Unknown Story is

based on a decade of research, and on interviews with many of Mao’s

close circle in China who have never talked before — and with virtually

everyone outside China who had significant dealings with him. It is full

of startling revelations, exploding the myth of the Long March, and

showing a completely unknown Mao: he was not driven by idealism or

ideology; his intimate and intricate relationship with Stalin went back

to the 1920s, ultimately bringing him to power; he welcomed Japanese

occupation of much of China; and he schemed, poisoned, and blackmailed

to get his way. After Mao conquered China in 1949, his secret goal was

to dominate the world. In chasing this dream he caused the deaths of 38

million people in the greatest famine in history. In all, well over 70

million Chinese perished under Mao’s rule — in peacetime.