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--this is the most authoritative life of Mao ever written. 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 intricate relationship with Stalin went back to the 1920s, ultimately bringing him to power; he welcomed the Japanese occupation; and he schemed, poisoned and blackmailed to get his way. After he conquered China in 1949, his secret goal was to dominate the world. 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. This entirely fresh look at Mao will astonish historians and the general reader alike.--From publisher description.

"Originally published in Great Britain by Jonathan Cape, London"--T.p. verso. Chinese collection.

Part 1Lukewarm Believer -- 1 On the Cusp from Ancient to Modern (1893-1911; age 1-17) -- 3 -- 2 Becoming a Communist (1911-20; age 17-26) -- 10 -- 3 Lukewarm Believer (1920-25; age 26-31) -- 22 -- 4 Rise and Demise in the Nationalist Party (1925-27; age 31-33) -- 36 -- Part 2 Long March to Supremacy in the Party -- 5 Hijacking a Red Force and Taking Over Bandit Land (1927-28; age 33-34) -- 49 -- 6 Subjugating the Red Army Supremo (1928-30; age 34-36) -- 64 -- 7 Takeover Leads to Death of Second Wife (1927-30; age 33-36) -- 76 -- 8 Bloody Purge Paves the Way for "Chairman Mao" (1929-31; age 35-37) -- 88 -- 9 Mao and the First Red State (1931-34; age 37-40) -- 101 -- 10 Troublemaker to Figurehead (1931-34; age 37-40) -- 110 -- 11 How Mao Got onto the Long March (1933-34; age 39-40) -- 120 -- 12 Long March I: Chiang Lets the Reds Go (1934; age 40) -- 130 -- 13 Long March II: The Power Behind the Throne (1934-35; age 40-41) -- 138 -- 14 Long March III: Monopolising the Moscow Connection (1935; age 41) -- 157 -- Part 3 Building His Power Base -- 15 Timely Death of Mao's Host (1935-36; age 41-42) -- 171 -- 16 Chiang Kai-shek Kidnapped (1935-36; age 41-42) -- 175 -- 17 A National Player (1936; age 42-43) -- 184 -- 18 New Image, New Life and New Wife (1937-38; age 43-44) -- 190 -- 19 Red Mole Triggers China-Japan War (1937-38; age 43-44) -- 200 -- 20 Fight Rivals and Chiang-Not Japan (1937-40; age 43-46) -- 210 -- 21 Most Desired Scenario: Stalin Carves Up China with Japan (1939-40; age 45-46) -- 219 -- 22 Death Trap for His Own Men (1940-41; age 46-47) -- 227 -- 23 Building a Power Base Through Terror (1941-45; age 47-51) -- 236 -- 24 Uncowed Opponent Poisoned (1941-45; age 47-51) -- 252 -- 25 Supreme Party Leader at Last (1942-45; age 48-51) -- 264 -- Part 4 To Conquer China -- 26 "Revolutionary Opium War" (1937-45; age 43-51) -- 273 -- 27 Russians Are Coming! (1945-46; age 51-52) -- 281 -- 28 Saved by Washington (1944-47; age 50-53) -- 293 -- 29 Moles, Betrayals and Poor Leadership Doom Chiang (1945-49; age 51-55) -- 301 -- 30 China Conquered (1946-49; age 52-55) -- 312 -- 31 Totalitarian State, Extravagant Lifestyle (1949-53; age 55-59) -- 323 -- Part 5 Chasing a Superpower Dream -- 32 Rivalry with Stalin (1947-49; age 53-55) -- 337 -- 33 Two Tyrants Wrestle (1949-50; age 55-56) -- 346 -- 34 Why Mao and Stalin Started the Korean War (1949-50; age 55-56) -- 356 -- 35 Mao Milks the Korean War (1950-53; age 56-59) -- 365 -- 36 Launching the Secret Superpower Programme (1953-54; age 59-60) -- 380 -- 37 War on Peasants (1953-56; age 59-62) -- 392 -- 38 Undermining Khrushchev (1956-59; age 62-65) -- 404 -- 39 Killing the "Hundred Flowers" (1957-58; age 63-64) -- 416 -- 40 Great Leap: "Half of China May Well Have to Die" (1958-61; age 64-67) -- 426 -- 41 Defence Minister Peng's Lonely Battle (1958-59; age 64-65) -- 440 -- 42 Tibetans Rebel (1950-61; age 56-67) -- 453 -- 43 Maoism Goes Global (1959-64; age 65-70) -- 458 -- 44 Ambushed by the President (1961-62; age 67-68) -- 470 -- 45 Bomb (1962-64; age 68-70) -- 480 -- 46 A Time of Uncertainty and Setbacks (1962-65; age 68-71) -- 486 -- Part 6 Unsweet Revenge -- 47 A Horse-Trade Secures the Cultural Revolution (1965-66; age 71-72) -- 503 -- 48 Great Purge (1966-67; age 72-73) -- 514 -- 49 Unsweet Revenge (1966-74; age 72-80) -- 528 -- 50 Chairman's New Outfit (1967-70; age 73-76) -- 537 -- 51 A War Scare (1969-71; age 75-77) -- 548 -- 52 Falling Out with Lin Biao (1970-71; age 76-77) -- 552 -- 53 Maoism Falls Flat on the World Stage (1966-70; age 72-76) -- 565 -- 54 Nixon: The Red-Baiter Baited (1970-73; age 76-79) -- 579 -- 55 Boss Denies Chou Cancer Treatment (1972-74; age 78-80) -- 592 -- 56 Mme Mao in the Cultural Revolution (1966-75; age 72-81) -- 599 -- 57 Enfeebled Mao Hedges His Bets (1973-76; age 79-82) -- 611 -- 58 Last Days (1974-76; age 80-82) -- 624 -- Archives Consulted -- 651.