The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolution, 1895-1980

In this masterful, highly original approach to modern Chinese history, Jonathan D. Spence shows us the Chinese revolution through the eyes of its most articulate participants - the writers, historians, philosophers, and insurrectionists who shaped and were shaped by turbulent events of this century. By skillfully combining literary materials with the more conventional sources of political and social history, Mr. Spence provides an unparalleled look at China and her people and offers valuable insight into the continuing conflict between the implacable power of the state and the strivings of China's artists, writers, and thinkers.