Revolution In China

by C.P. Fitzgerald

SCUFFING, CREASING, EDGE WEAR AND SOME DINGS ON COVERS AND SPINE. BOOK STORE STAMP ON FIRST PAGE. OTHERWISE PAGES ARE CLEAN, BUT TANNED. MUSTY ODOR. SAME COVER AS STOCK PHOTO SHOWN.

Genres: History, China, Asia, Nonfiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Charles Patrick Fitzgerald was a British historian. He was a professor of East Asian studies with particular focus on China.

Reviews

[Nathan Levin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skipped the last most of the last 2 chapters, as one was dedicated to "Possible Developments of the Chinese Revolution" and the other was not particularly interesting. This book is old, so it does not cover what happens in the 70s onwards. One interesting titbit I found was the USSR removing all industry from Manchuria after the war. One chapter is dedicated pointing out how communists are like Christians. An old, tired argument, but in the case of China, it makes some sense, given that a significant portion of CPC leaders were ex-Christian converts. I do not agree with most of what is argued here, but it is interesting none the less.

[Grazyna Nawrocka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 1961, and the author must have relied on information he had from Chinese propaganda. He claims, that due to the government diligence no Chinese people were starving during drought in 1950s, and that all citizens are happy with the system.

Obviously the author hadn't been to China. This said, I am impressed with insights I have gained into the Chinese way of thinking. Traditionally, the other nations are believed to be "barbarians," and being Chinese citizen makes one civilized. Any religion might be considered superstition, and government is against spreading it. The land, which once belonged to China, is considered its property for ever. This explains current situation in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It was also a very interesting overview of country's recent history.

[Edmund Bloxam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of this book is pointless and there's enough flagrantly incorrect about it to write it off for even the most thorough historical study.

The book is in three parts. The first is historical, and thus the only thing worth reading for the modern reader. Some of it is flat out wrong, other bits echo Communist propaganda - apparently, the millions dead in the late 50s died purely because of famine. You're better off reading more or less any other book on the era for history.

The third part is a journalistic 'state of play' analysis, which is, unavoidably, wildly outdated. I've learned to avoid contemporary books of this nature. It is analysis dated even by its own standards. Despite this edition being released in the early 60s, the war in Vietnam is still a French thing, not an American one. Well done, great update.

The middle section is so bizarre, it actually made me angry. It is a lengthy, multi-chapter analysis of Christianity in China. Let me summarize: 'there ain't much of it goin' on'. The fervant desire to enforce his credo on other peoples is craven and embarrassing. More importantly, it is entirely irrelevant.

Cool picture on the front cover though.

[Alejandro Fajardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight into the first years of Communist China. I very fair and balanced perspective into Chinese affairs and its interaction with the West and other regional powers.