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A review by huerca_armada
Red Star Over China: The Classic Account of the Birth of Chinese Communism by Edgar Snow
3.0
A fascinating window into the world of the Chinese Communists as they existed in 1935-1936, Snow's interviews and accounts with not just the leaders of the Communist Party of China, but the common soldiers, peasants, and workers that lived in the territories that they controlled are a critical facet to understanding not just the way in which the CPC was able to survive the brutal conditions it faced, but how it would come to win the Chinese Civil War. The differences between the Nationalist ("White") governance and that of the communists is starkly highlighted in gripping detail, from the regressive taxation schemes to the laissez-faire cruelty that defined the lives of many of the poor and downtrodden. Many of those interviewed by Snow who had lost parents, siblings, wives, and in some cases entire clans that included their extended family to the Nationalist efforts to stamp them out, and yet persevered anyways -- marching out of the Jiangxi Soviet as the Nationalist armies began a campaign of annihilation, and completing the thousands of miles of marching necessary to survive being dogged by their enemies.
While some of the more auspicious guesses by the Communist leaders interviewed by Snow would not be born out in the future, this does not detract from the overall quality of the account. There are a few stumbling blocks here and there; the way in which the text is written makes frequent skips or retreading of the same ground a common characteristic. It would have been nice for a chronologically arranged history of the Communists, followed by the interviews necessary, to help better guide the text. And while I appreciate my copy being true to form and preserving the Wade-Giles pronunciation format that Snow was both familiar with and used, I would have appreciated it if it had been updated with more modern Romanization standards.
Overall a fine primary account that should be on your reading list if you have an interest in Chinese history in the early 20th century.
While some of the more auspicious guesses by the Communist leaders interviewed by Snow would not be born out in the future, this does not detract from the overall quality of the account. There are a few stumbling blocks here and there; the way in which the text is written makes frequent skips or retreading of the same ground a common characteristic. It would have been nice for a chronologically arranged history of the Communists, followed by the interviews necessary, to help better guide the text. And while I appreciate my copy being true to form and preserving the Wade-Giles pronunciation format that Snow was both familiar with and used, I would have appreciated it if it had been updated with more modern Romanization standards.
Overall a fine primary account that should be on your reading list if you have an interest in Chinese history in the early 20th century.