Steve's Reviews > The Tragedy of Liberation: A History of the Chinese Revolution 1945-1957

As in his earlier work, Mao’s Great Famine, Prof. Dikötter has written an exceptionally well-researched history of China, focusing on the period 1945 to 1957. While the depravities of Mao’s regime have been generally known to students of history, many details remained under lock and key. Prof. Dikötter’s diligent effort provides a valuable record for English readers, incorporating significant material from previously closed government archives. Oh, what horrors!
To be fair, China’s sad story has many chapters before we get to Mao, it’s just that Mao seemed to take repression to a new level, even for China.

I’m at a loss to absorb fully the details for the atrocities and brutalities included in this volume, especially when I add them to what occurred in Germany and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century; there’s a few moments in American history we could include, too, lest you thought the good ol’ US of A is immune from reprehensibilities while digesting your Thanksgiving turkey. Should we not recite a short threnody daily in memoriam for the victims’ collective distress? Oh, sorry, my Grande Mocha Frappuchino® is melting, plus Real Housewives of Orange County started three minutes ago. Ciao!