Jonathan Spence (1936-2021): Was the author of more than a dozen well-regarded books which illuminate China's vast history through details that illuminated bigger pictures and themes. (The New York Times) including The Gate of Heavenly Peace, Treason by the Book, and The Death of Woman Wang. His awards include a Guggenheim and a MacArthur Fellowship. He was Sterling Professor of History at Yale University from 1993 to 2008.
Exceptionally successful. ( The New Yorker ) Praise for Mao Zedong: A Life Spence is the best known and most talented historian of China writing in English today. . . . His Mao Zedong succeeds. --Los Angeles Times Exceptionally successful. --The New Yorker The task of bringing Mao to a large, non-specialist audience is one for which Spence is eminently well-suited. His lucidly written, compellingly narrated explorations of modern Chinese history have attracted a readership unmatched by that of any other academic China specialist. His study of Mao is short . . . his writing tight, his judgments restrained. --The Washington Post An elegant account, at once sparse and robust. --The Economist Jonathan Spence [is] an eloquent chronicler of Chinese history. . . . [A] brisk, elegant book. . . . Spence skillfully uses Mao's letters and poems to explore the Chinese leader's thinking and relationships. --USA Today There is no better person to write a general, readable account of Mao than Spence, an acclaimed Chinese historian and author of several biographies. --Library Journal (starred review) Fluid and informative despite its brevity. --Publishers Weekly Praise for Mao Zedong: A Life Spence is the best known and most talented historian of China writing in English today. . . . His Mao Zedong succeeds. Los Angeles Times Exceptionally successful. The New Yorker The task of bringing Mao to a large, non-specialist audience is one for which Spence is eminently well-suited. His lucidly written, compellingly narrated explorations of modern Chinese history have attracted a readership unmatched by that of any other academic China specialist. His study of Mao is short . . . his writing tight, his judgments restrained. The Washington Post An elegant account, at once sparse and robust. The Economist Jonathan Spence [is] an eloquent chronicler of Chinese history. . . . [A] brisk, elegant book. . . . Spence skillfully uses Mao s letters and poems to explore the Chinese leader s thinking and relationships. USA Today There is no better person to write a general, readable account of Mao than Spence, an acclaimed Chinese historian and author of several biographies. Library Journal (starred review) Fluid and informative despite its brevity. Publishers Weekly Praise for Mao Zedong: A Life Spence is the best known and most talented historian of China writing in English today. . . . His Mao Zedong succeeds. Los Angeles Times Exceptionally successful. The New Yorker The task of bringing Mao to a large, non-specialist audience is one for which Spence is eminently well-suited. His lucidly written, compellingly narrated explorations of modern Chinese history have attracted a readership unmatched by that of any other academic China specialist. His study of Mao is short . . . his writing tight, his judgments restrained. The Washington Post An elegant account, at once sparse and robust. The Economist Jonathan Spence [is] an eloquent chronicler of Chinese history. . . . [A] brisk, elegant book. . . . Spence skillfully uses Mao s letters and poems to explore the Chinese leader s thinking and relationships. USA Today There is no better person to write a general, readable account of Mao than Spence, an acclaimed Chinese historian and author of several biographies. Library Journal (starred review) Fluid and informative despite its brevity. Publishers Weekly Praise for Mao Zedong: A Life Spence is the best known and most talented historian of China writing in English today. . . . His Mao Zedong succeeds. -- Los Angeles Times Exceptionally successful. -- The New Yorker The task of bringing Mao to a large, non-specialist audience is one for which Spence is eminently well-suited. His lucidly written, compellingly narrated explorations of modern Chinese history have attracted a readership unmatched by that of any other academic China specialist. His study of Mao is short . . . his writing tight, his judgments restrained. -- The Washington Post An elegant account, at once sparse and robust. -- The Economist Jonathan Spence [is] an eloquent chronicler of Chinese history. . . . [A] brisk, elegant book. . . . Spence skillfully uses Mao's letters and poems to explore the Chinese leader's thinking and relationships. -- USA Today There is no better person to write a general, readable account of Mao than Spence, an acclaimed Chinese historian and author of several biographies. -- Library Journal (starred review) Fluid and informative despite its brevity. -- Publishers Weekly Praise for Mao Zedong: A Life Spence is the best known and most talented historian of China writing in English today. . . . His Mao Zedong succeeds. -- Los Angeles Times Exceptionally successful. -- The New Yorker The task of bringing Mao to a large, non-specialist audience is one for which Spence is eminently well-suited. His lucidly written, compellingly narrated explorations of modern Chinese history have attracted a readership unmatched by that of any other academic China specialist. His study of Mao is short . . . his writing tight, his judgments restrained. -- The Washington Post An elegant account, at once sparse and robust. -- The Economist Jonathan Spence [is] an eloquent chronicler of Chinese history. . . . [A] brisk, elegant book. . . . Spence skillfully uses Mao's letters and poems to explore the Chinese leader's thinking and relationships. -- USA Today There is no better person to write a general, readable account of Mao than Spence, an acclaimed Chinese historian and author of several biographies. -- Library Journal (starred review) Fluid and informative despite its brevity. -- Publishers Weekly Exceptionally successful. ( The New Yorker )