Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong went from being a poor farmer’s son to a revolutionary leader, a general in World War II and the ruler of the world’s most populous nation. Alternately glorified and demonized, not only in the Western world, but also in the China that he once ruled, his influence persists to this day. This new biography will capitalize on new information that has recently come to light, about his private life (and his several wives), with the publication of memoirs by his doctor and former nurse, among others.

JONATHAN CLEMENTS is an author and TV presenter specialising in the history and cultures of the Far East. He speaks both Chinese and Japanese, and has been a consultant and talking head on numerous TV programmes, including New Secrets of the Terracotta Warriors (Channel 4), Koxinga: Sailing into History (National Geographic), China’s Jade Empire (Channel 4), and TheChinese Chariot Revealed (PBS). Since 2016, he has fronted the award-winning series Route Awakening (National Geographic Asia). His most recent documentary as presenter is Shandong: Land of Confucius, also for National Geographic. Visit Jonathan’s blog, here.

Also by this author, An Armchair Traveller’s History of Beijing, Mannerheim, An Armchair Traveller’s History of Finland, A History of the Silk Road, An Armchair Traveller’s History of the Silk Road, An Armchair Traveller’s History of Tokyo, Admiral Togo, A Short History of Tokyo, and A Short History of Beijing.