1776

Amazon.com

Esteemed historian David McCullough covers the military side of the momentous year of 1776 with characteristic insight and a gripping narrative, adding new scholarship and a fresh perspective to the beginning of the American Revolution. It was a turbulent and confusing time. As British and American politicians struggled to reach a compromise, events on the ground escalated until war was inevitable. McCullough writes vividly about the dismal conditions that troops on both sides had to endure, including an unusually harsh winter, and the role that luck and the whims of the weather played in helping the colonial forces hold off the world's greatest army. He also effectively explores the importance of motivation and troop morale--a tie was as good as a win to the Americans, while anything short of overwhelming victory was disheartening to the British, who expected a swift end to the war. The redcoat retreat from Boston, for example, was particularly humiliating for the British, while the minor American victory at Trenton was magnified despite its limited strategic importance.

Some of the strongest passages in 1776 are the revealing and well-rounded portraits of the Georges on both sides of the Atlantic. King George III, so often portrayed as a bumbling, arrogant fool, is given a more thoughtful treatment by McCullough, who shows that the king considered the colonists to be petulant subjects without legitimate grievances--an attitude that led him to underestimate the will and capabilities of the Americans. At times he seems shocked that war was even necessary. The great Washington lives up to his considerable reputation in these pages, and McCullough relies on private correspondence to balance the man and the myth, revealing how deeply concerned Washington was about the Americans' chances for victory, despite his public optimism. Perhaps more than any other man, he realized how fortunate they were to merely survive the year, and he willingly lays the responsibility for their good fortune in the hands of God rather than his own. Enthralling and superbly written, 1776 is the work of a master historian. --Shawn Carkonen

The Other 1776
With his riveting, enlightening accounts of subjects from Johnstown Flood to John Adams, David McCullough has become the historian that Americans look to most to tell us our own story. In his Amazon.com interview, McCullough explains why he turned in his new book from the political battles of the Revolution to the battles on the ground, and he marvels at some of his favorite young citizen soldiers who fought alongside the remarkable General Washington.

The Essential David McCullough

John Adams
Truman
Mornings on Horseback

The Path Between the Seas
The Great Bridge
The Johnstown Flood

More Reading on the Revolution

The Great Improvisation by Stacy Schiff
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis

Washington's General by Terry Golway
Iron Tears by Stanley Weintraub
Victory at Yorktown by Richard M. Ketchum

Book Description

In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence -- when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known. But it is the American commander-in-chief who stands foremost -- Washington, who had never before led an army in battle.

The darkest hours of that tumultuous year were as dark as any Americans have known. Especially in our own tumultuous time, 1776 is powerful testimony to how much is owed to a rare few in that brave founding epoch, and what a miracle it was that things turned out as they did.

Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough's 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.

Download Description

"In this stirring book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence -- when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper. Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough's 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history. "

Customer Reviews:

Excellent analysis.......2007-10-15

This is a terrific book that brings some of the most dramatic moments in the war of independence to life. If you're interested in how this country started, this is a good book to read.

"If We can Keep It" - quote of the Forefathers.......2007-10-13

It's people like David McCullough that manage to bring American History alive once more.

I remember sitting in American History class, bored to tears by the dryness of the whole thing, knowing it was vastly important, yet no stimulus was forthcoming from the instructors, further compounded by being too young to care. Perhaps, most of us just need to get older to appreciate what we have, what was given us by our predecessors, but whatever the reason, David McCullough opened the door of my jaded imagination to a vibrantly alive century long past, full of real people, feet of clay, possessing all the human frailties, yet coming together across racial, social, and intellectual lines, doing an impossible job against all odds, under the worst possible conditions, and triumphing in the end simply because they refused to recognize defeat, even as it surrounded them from every direction.

Two facts that starkly stand out in the whole mix: The patriots Knox and Greene, neither of them gentlemen by birth in the accepted way, possessing no great wealth, nor education, became two of the major components behind Washington that granted him the victory. Perhaps in other times, they, endowed of such natural talent would have been entirely overlooked. American ingenuity, one of our greatest strengths, was born out of them to us - on the spur of the moment, out of pressing necessity - with nothing more asked - or to be gained, other than death - than the passion (no other word will do) to support a new idea - Freedom.

We all know what the outcome was, so I won't bore any of you with more of that in my own heartfelt review of the book. What I really wished to convey to any reader, especially a younger one, who may not have opened the pages as yet - is that it will bring a new generation to experience anew the sense of pride that most of us as American's feel, and do it in a way that is truly "readable".

What a book - written by someone who leaves "dry" at home and digs down deep into the "human experience" to tell us the vibrant story about the courage that slumbers until needed - among a people who possess the desire to live free.

We weren't "Born Free" - it was won "for us" by others long gone - let's never forget.

Success was not guaranteed.......2007-10-01

Looking back on the American revolution of 1776 we sometimes
make the mistake to think success was guaranteed.
In David McCulloughs splendid book 1776 we clearly see
that it was not.
Its the gripping tale of american patriots like Nathanael Green,
age thirty three, who knew nothing of war except what he had read in books, and twenty five year old bookseller Henry Knox - who joined the
cause with George Washington to fight the biggest army in the world.

A weird assembly - the cause of liberty being led by a slavemaster
(Washington had more than 100 slaves). Still, in the end he is the one
who overcomes all bad odds and makes independence real.
In december 1776 leading a down and out army of some 3.000 to surprise attack Christmas night on hessian forces in Trenton and later Princeton. Turning the tide.
Having narrowly escaped the british and certain defeat in Brooklyn,
where the american army eventually only escaped over the East river,
because of the curtain of night concealed them and later a heavy fog.
Had they been spotted by the british - defeat would have been certain.
At Kips Bay Washington finds his troops in panic. Turned cowards
in front of the enemy. When no one obeys and only runs in panic,
Washington throws his hat to the ground, exclaiming in disgust:
"Are these the men with which I am to defend America".
As he and his defeated men are chased through New Jersey
by the british, thousands of the good people in New Jersey
flock to the british camps to declare their loyalty.
Washingtons followers reduced to a pitiable collection of ragged,
dispirited mortals that ever pretended to the name of an army.
As the sick and elderly were being abused, raped and murdered by british and Hessian forces in the New Jersey countryside - Washington forces quit in large numbers and return home.
And still, Christmas night, Washingtons men attack Trenton and conquers
1.500 Hessians - and turned the tide.
In McCulloughs word- Washington was not a brilliant tactician,
not a gifted orator, not an intellectual. At several crucial moments
he had shown indecisiveness and mistakes in judgment. But he
never forgot what was at stake and he never gave up.

What a story 1776 is. It makes sense that one book can't follow
event all the way to Yorktown or from the beginning with the Boston teaparty.
Simply 1776 has so much drama - that it is more than enough
for one book. But I will look forward to sequels. 1775, 1777 etc.
The John Adams book was more complete in the sense that we got both the begining and the end to the story, so that got five stars. Here I missed something on what happened after 1776 - but then again, I am sure the author is busy working on sequels !

-Simon

It Can't Be Said Enough, Excellent, Superb, One of the Best.......2007-10-01

There has probably been enough written about this book to fill more pages than the book itself. Of all the military books I have read, this book more than any other brought the information alive. The way writing was beyond excellent and the information presented in an engaging manner. Obviously this book represents General Washington and the American cause in a positive manner. That's not to say that it glosses over any of Washington's mistakes. On the contrary the author is quick to point out the general's mistakes and weaknesses. But as history would prove, Washington did enough right to survive 1776 and all the events of that dramatic year to keep an army in the field. Keeping the Continental Army in the field was most likely the single most important achievement of George Washington's tenure as Commander and Chief, during the war years. The book gives you insight into the lives of both officers and enlisted while maintaining it's focus on the overall impact of the decisions made during each chapter. It's difficult to write a review for a book that has already won the Pulitzer Prize. All this reviewer can really say is that all the accolades this book has received were very much deserved

1776: A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE!.......2007-09-21

David McCullough's book "1776" chronicles the first major year of fighting in during America's war for independence. The strength of this book is how McCullough gives the reader a humanistic portrayal of all the key players of the American Revolution. His accounts of key battles and events are exciting and dramatic, rivaling the best of historic fiction. This book will keep you glued until the very end. I highly recommend it!
Grade: A

Red Scarf Girl (rpkg): A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution

Average customer rating:

Red Scarf Girl
Red Scarf Girl
Used as part of our curriculum
Absolutely captivating and brilliant!
Stinks

Red Scarf Girl (rpkg): A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Ji-li Jiang
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Asia | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Teens | Subjects | Books

Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064462080

Book Description

In 1966 Ji–li Jiang turned twelve. An outstanding student and leader, she had everything: brains, the admiration of her peers, and a bright future in China's Communist Party. But that year China's leader, Mao Ze–dong, launched the Cultural Revolution, and everything changed. Over the next few years Ji–li and her family were humiliated and scorned by former friends, neighbors, and co–workers. They lived in constant terror of arrest. Finally, with the detention of her father, Ji–li faced the most difficult choice of her life.

Told with simplicity and grace, this is the true story of one family's courage and determination during one of the most terrifying eras of the twentieth century.

Ages 11+

Customer Reviews:

Red Scarf Girl.......2007-09-10

This is a great book. It arrived in a timely manner and my daughter and I have enjoyed it very much.

Red Scarf Girl.......2007-03-17

Ji Li Jiang is only a teenage girl, yet she is forced to cope with the terrible happenings that occur during the Cultural Revolution. Ji Li Jiang's family just wanted to be loyal followers of Chairman Mao, but due to Ji Li's grandfather and his status as a former landlord, the Jiangs are exposed to many unfair discourtesies.
Ji Li grows confused and disoriented as the story reveals itself. Ji Li is offered the chance of a lifetime, a chance that any Chinese teenager would dream of. The government has given Ji Li the opportunity to be trained as a gymnast. Ji Li is being pulled in two different directions, one direction by her family who wants her to turn down the offer, and another by herself who really wants to accept. Ji Li must decide whether she will give into her family, or her own self-centeredness.
Ji Li Jiang told the unfortunate story of the Chinese Cultural Revolution with incredible realism. This journal is told from the point of view of a truly unlucky girl who was born into the gruesome time period filled with tragedy.
Don't be discouraged by the title. If you are the kind of reader that lives for the feeling that completely overcomes you when you get lost in a book, then this is the story is for you! Read one chapter. You won't be able to put it down!

-Scott C.

Used as part of our curriculum.......2007-01-10

We use this book as part of the curriculum for a class that I teach to youth ages 12-17. This book really seems to get them to understand right and wrong forms of government, what a right is- and what it looks like when those rights are taken away, and gives them a sense of appreciation for the freedoms that we have in this country.

Absolutely captivating and brilliant!.......2006-08-18

When I first heard about the book, it was because a friend recomended it. She said it was one of the best books she ever read, and after reading it myself I completely agree. It is about a girl growing up in the Chinese Cultural Revolution and facing the challenge of growing up in a family with a bad reputation according to the government. I liked this book because it really made me think about how kids are living. Also, because I like books about people with a realistic life, not a fairytale. I would reccomend it to any of my friends!

Stinks.......2006-05-12

Don't like it at all. Don't even waste your time reading it. i was forced to read it!!! Two thumbs DOWN :-(!!!

Average customer rating:

Excellent.
Good but not as good as Empress Orchid
RED AZALEA
I still think about this book 5yrs later
torn from a family

Red Azalea
Anchee Min
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0425147762

Book Description

This New York Times Notable Book tells the true story of what it was like growing up in Mao's China, where the soul was secondary to the state, beauty was mistrusted, and love could be punishable by death. Newsweek calls Anchee Min's prose "as delicate and evocative as a traditional Chinese brush painting."

Customer Reviews:

Excellent........2007-09-04

I finished the book in 2 days...I could've finished it in one but I'm a student so I couldn't finish it as early as planned. However, I love this book! I love Anchee Min..she is definetly my favorite author. I bought almost all her books. One of the book I really liked is Empress Orchid.

Good but not as good as Empress Orchid.......2007-08-31

Having read Empress Orchard I found this written in a more juvenile way. Perhaps the author was a younger and less sophisticated writer at the time. Good, but not fantastic

RED AZALEA.......2007-08-24

A VERY OUTSTANDING STORY....FROM COMMUNIST CHINA, WITH ALL THE HARDSHIPS
AND BEING FRIENDLESS STRUGGLE WITH LIFE IN A NEW CHINA.LOVE READING IT
EVERY MINUTE...HARD TO PUT DOWN.

I still think about this book 5yrs later.......2006-11-30

Lovely book. Well written. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese history.

torn from a family.......2006-09-05

Having read Becoming Madame Mao before reading Red Azalea blunted the impact. Both essentially use the same plot background. Nevertheless, Red Azalea was a good (and easy) read. The narration almost carries a feeling of a monotone in the telling but the blunt force of the brutal Mao regime balances any intimacies. We need to remind ourselves from what the Chinese are now recovering--and that cruelty and incredible backwardness still lingers in that society. That passion which is revealed is sad, for it comes from great loneliness and lack of family.
I'm curious as to how Anchee Min got through the process of coming to the U.S. and what her life has since become. I'd like to know more about her parents and how her siblings fared. I was left hanging.

The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 (Dear America)

Average customer rating:

4th-6th Teacher recommendation
This got my daughter hooked on history
I really like it, It kept me reading.
The winter
The Winter of Red Snow

The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 (Dear America)
Kristiana Gregory
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0590226533

Customer Reviews:

4th-6th Teacher recommendation.......2007-07-27

This year I will be teaching American history to my students. It is important to "connect" as many subjects as possible. This book provides a link between the Civil War, history, and literature. Not only does it link the subjects, it is interesting as well. The author gives a child's look into the War for Independence that is genuine and easily read. Most diary type books are choppy; this one flows well from one entry to the next. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to teach children about the Civil War.

This got my daughter hooked on history.......2007-07-05

My daugher discovered this book in 4th grade and was so thrilled to get her own copy. Nearly three years later, it's still her go-to fiction when she doesn't know what else to read, and she says she always gets something new from it. It's tough to recommend something I've never read myself, but my daughter is a pretty discerning reader, so I trust her judgement on this one.

I really like it, It kept me reading........2006-12-02

For me this book was one that I just couldn't put down, I was always reading it. I like this book becuase I learned more about what went on in Valley Forge then I ever did. The author Kristiana Gregory even put in words like thy and ye to make it sound more back then when you read. What happens to Abigail is so exciting that you want to keep reading and never stop. The Winter of Red Snow has a nice ending and goes on to the epilogue, to tell about what happens in the future. On the very end pages there are pictures of historical people and historical things that happen in the book. The book is 170 pages long counting the epilogue and the pictures. You read to page 147 to get to the very end before the Epilogue. I really predict this book to anyone who likes to read their brother or sisters journal, or someone who likes to hear about history mixed with adventure. If you read it make sure to pass it on to someone else, I am sure they will like it too.

The winter.......2006-06-19

This historical fiction book is about a young girl named Abigail Jane Stuart. She lives in Valley Forge in 1777 and has come to find that some solders come and stay not far from her home. The main characters are Mr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart, Elizabeth, Sally, and Abigail of course. Also she has a little brother that has just been born named Johnny and there not shore if he is going to survive the winter because winter is just around the corner. The solders are not making things better for them; one example is the solders are very hungry so they stole their chickens. Abigail also gets to meet general George Washington and his wife. I really enjoyed this book because it really explained things well and you really could feel how they felt and you could picture it. The only thing that was a little hard was that some names were hard to say. Also there kind of grammar was hard to say. If you really like historical fiction then buy this book today, I would.

The Winter of Red Snow.......2006-06-19

The Winter of Red Snow is about a girl named Abigail Jane Stewart who records her days by writing in a diary. On December 17, 1777 Abigail was writing and she wrote...
I woke to the sleet hitting the window and another sound I'd not heard before. Papa came and said, "The soldiers are coming!" Finally through the grey we saw them. Three officers on horseback led. We ran outside to cheer for them, but the men were quite and thin. The sight of them took my breath away. "They have no shoes." Elizabeth whispered. Their footprints left blood in the snow. As I wrote this upstairs my candle low, I think I shall never again complain.
I think that really say's allot. She writes about tragic movements sometimes. I think they called it the "Winter of Red Snow" because blood is red and as she said, in her writing there footprints left blood in the snow making it red snow. Abigail has many problems and troubles in this book, witch she tries to find solutions to them. She likes to write what's in her head, what she sees, but mostly what's going on. Read this book for many adventures with Abigail Jane Stewart.

Average customer rating:

It reveals that horrible human nature of both individual and masses
Wonderful
The Many Faces of the Cultural Revolution
Amazing
A shocking look at a remarkable period

Red-Color News Soldier
Li Zhensheng
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photojournalism | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

20th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0714843083

Book Description

Following World War II, China found itself struggling with a conversion to communism that had wreaked havoc on the nation's economy, causing a devastating famine and extreme economic depression. In 1966 China's leader, Mao Zedong, gave his support to radicals within the communist party who envisioned a revolutionary social upheaval that would destroy all traces of the reactionary past. This was the beginning of a ten-year period of violence and chaos known as the Cultural Revolution. Many top officials lost their positions and numerous provincial governments came under the control of the radicals. The radical movement was primarily led by students who formed organizations known as "Red Guards," which used violent methods to punish people they saw as "anti-Maoists" or counter-revolutionaries. At the height of the Cultural Revolution (1966-70) China's universities were closed and much of its populace was sent to rural "re-education centres" where they were indoctrinated with Maoist policies. It is during this period that Li Zhensheng worked as a photojournalist for the "Heilongjiang Daily", shooting film both for the paper and, as we know now, for himself. While Li worked for a newspaper supporting the Maoist movement and admits he did not think Mao's policies to be incorrect at the beginning of his tenure at the newspaper, his hiding of film was a highly subversive action. As a photographer, Li wanted to document the Cultural Revolution for himself and for others in the future. He put himself at risk by hiding film stills that the government would have destroyed, capturing events of which little or no other visual record exists. Looking at the photos in this book, one sees the difference between the photos published in the "Daily" and those Li hid for himself, allowing for a rare understanding of how the Chinese government controlled media during the Cultural Revolution. The Heilongjiang province where Li worked was crucial because of its proximity to the then Soviet Union. Its main city, Harbin, had been occupied by the Soviets following World War II and was later set up as a communication hub between the Soviet Union and China. It was the communist centre which bred the revolutionary movement, leading to China's unification under communist control in 1949. This Russian influence can be seen in the details of Li's photographs, right down to the city's typically Russian-style architecture. Many of Li's techniques as a photographer borrow from his training as a filmmaker, including his creation of "handheld panoramic" photos by shooting overlapping frames of large panoramas and pasting the stills together to create the illusion of one continuous shot. His inventive techniques and powerful images make Li one of the premier Chinese photographers alive today. This book, which takes its name from the literal translation of Li's accreditation as a photographer approved by the Communist Party headquarters in ! Beijing, is part of the key to understanding one of the most turbulent and still notorious eras of modern history. The book includes a preface, introduction, text by the photographer, chronology, maps, and extensive photo captions for over 400 photos (almost all of which have never been seen before).

Customer Reviews:

It reveals that horrible human nature of both individual and masses.......2006-12-28

Li's photos captured the extreme madness of hundreds of thousands people in China during that so-called Cultural Revolution and it reveals the very dark side of human nature as seen from, for instance, that young woman cheerfully recorded the place, date and time when she saw Mao going by in his jeep, the humiliating punishment of all sorts of people such as Communist Party Provincial secretaries or provincial governors, newspaper workers, peasants, or whoever in huge mass demonstration against so-called "Anti-Revolutionary Reactionaries" to different Red Guard factions infightings they reminded me how Hitler got into power, how Japanese militarism got in total control in Japan in its war efforts, and, believe it or not, how George W. Bush & Co. got "elected" into the White House, they all show that similar built-in weakness of human characteristics- or the human genes! This book tells a lot about all of us. The monolithic political power, century's religious indoctrination are at work around clock and real enlightening secular education around the world is probably struggling in a losing battle. A good book of historical documents.

Wonderful.......2004-06-11

This isn't just a history book laced with photos; this is also a personal view on the Cultural Revolution from the photographer's point of view. Informative and emotional at the same time. Wonderful.

The Many Faces of the Cultural Revolution.......2004-03-22

For those of us fascinated and puzzled over the cultural revolution in China, here are photos to bring to life what we've been reading.There are many faces to study. This document seems curiously objective even though the author has his own story to tell of being treated unfairly. I would not describe the photos as shocking to those who have studied these events in China's history. This is a great companion to any other narrative one might be studying on the subject. Also, the author is a remarkable person. This is another work on the cultural revolution where I come away feeling gratitude toward the author. Li Zhensheng has a more benign story in comparison with some other personal accounts that were part of my introduction to this subject. I enjoy this additional perspective. There is much to see here.

Amazing.......2004-03-14

For those readers whose knowledge of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution is limited to film, here is a document that shows that some of the films that portray these scenes were not exaggerated. These photographs do much more work than most documentary photographs. There is something uncannily immediate about them, as though the events depicted happened only yesterday; sometimes it is as though they were still happening. The text that accompanies the photographs follows the story of the photographer and his work through these years, and is interesting and well written. I came away from this book with the feeling of horror at fascism that I have never felt before. This book communicates something original and timeless about the human condition that I believe is priceless and rare. If you can't afford this book, you should seek it out at a bookstore and read it.

A shocking look at a remarkable period.......2003-12-22

Although the photographs are the main focus of this book, the accompanying text is also illuminating as an individual's account of his experiences of the Cultural Revolution. The text has, of course, been written with the benefit of hindsight - and one gets a sense of retrospective self-justification coming in. The passion that the period inspired amongst the younger generation is also evident, however.

The photographs are, of course, contemporary accounts of the living through that period, and consequently have the power to shock significantly. The "struggle session" photographs of senior party leaders undergoing "self-criticism" are particularly horrific. The concluding photographs of a "victor" of the Cultural Revolution on her way to her execution after the restoration of a more normal society also have a big impact - though curiously there is a sense of the pathetic about the woman that Li captures.

Book Description

Written by highly acclaimed historian Gary B. Nash, this book presents an interpretive account of the interactions between Native Americans, African Americans, and Euroamericans during the colonial and revolutionary eras. It reveals the crucial interconnections between North America's many peoples– illustrating the ease of their interactions in the first two centuries of European and African presence–to develop a fuller, deeper understanding of the nation's underpinnings.

Average customer rating:

Stunningly Inaccurate!
See How God Works in the World!
Fascinating and well-written history

1917: Red Banners White Mantle
Warren H. Carroll
Manufacturer: Christendom Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Russia | History | Subjects | Books

Eastern Europe | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0931888050

Book Description

A captivating account that narrates, month by month, the events of 1917. This is popular Catholic history at its finest. The drama of the Great War and the Russian Revolution are juxtaposed with the spiritual dimension of the Age: the diabolism of Rasputin, the Apparition of the Virgin at Fatima, the malignancy of Lenin, the saintly courage of (the now blessed) Charles of Austria. Few standard histories have ever given such a high degree of consideration to the supernatural and the Christian interpretation of history as 1917 does.

Customer Reviews:

Stunningly Inaccurate!.......2006-05-12

From start to finish, this short work of Warren Carroll is filled with distortions, fabrications, and deceptions. Carroll begins his litany of lies by demeaning the great General Sir William Robertson, one of the only soldiers in the history of the British army to have risen from the lowliest of enlisted ranks to flag rank. Unfortunately, knowing Carroll, we know exatly why he would choose to demean Robertson. The man was good and true, a credit to his profession, all things which Carroll, unfortunately, is not. But more importantly, it was Robertson who courageously and dutifully inveighed against the distraction of the Palestine campaign, so dear to Carroll's heart, that very nearly lost the war for the Entente. Robertson said prophetically,

"We cannot win the war in Palestine. But we still can lose it in Europe."

Carroll then proceeds to completely misportray the condition of Holy Russia in the era of the period leading up to World War I. In fact, Holy Russia then produced 67 percent of the world's rye, 31 percent of wheat, 30 percent of oats, and nearly half of the world's production of barley. This was produced by an economy that was almost completely decentralized, an inconvenient fact that Carroll's so called research seems to have missed.

From this foundation, Carroll then proceeds to the hero of his account, Lenin. It is absolutely astonishing how this so called Catholic author lavishes encomiums on this bloody mass murderer. If we had not read Carroll's other comic book versions of history, we would not have believed that a person who would style himself an historian would record such nonsense. But, there it is.

Almost as astounding as Carroll's portrayal of Lenin is his ahistorical depiction of Woodrow Wilson. Carroll actually has the audacity to assert that Wilson operated essentially without advisors, when any third year history undergraduate knows that Wilson did virtually nothing without the advise of Edward Mandell House, whom Wilson styled his "alter ego". Carroll must actually assume that those who read his books read nothing else. This, of course, is an absurd assumption, which can only lead to the type of absurdity that Carroll herein renders.

Carroll's concluding chapter, devoted to his hero, Lenin, hints at the possibility that Stalin may have been responsible for secretly poisoning Lenin. Mind you, there is not a shred of evidence for this accusation. But, it does make for a good comic book. Carroll completely leaves out any mention of the fact that Lenin in fact died of syphilis. See, this wouldn't make good reading for Carroll's legion of misled fans.

Previously, we alluded to a point that requires further elaboration. Policed out of Carroll's account is any mention of events in Palestine, Britain, and the United States in 1917 concerning the status of Palestine and Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann. Carroll makes much of the triumph of Lenin's revolutionaries in Holy Russia. He intentionally disregards the simultaneous triumph of Weizmann and his Zionist collaborators that manifested in the Balfour Declaration the same week as the communist takeover. Indeed, 1917 represented a cosmic conflict. What Carroll chooses to shield his readers from is the anti-Christian nature of the bicephalous monster of Zionism and communism. This is worse than incompetence. It is outright deception.

A caution to those who seek the truth. It is not be found here, or in any of the works of this author. We have found it absolutely required in reading the periods of history that Carroll covers to consult more reliable texts. One good note can be offered relative to this otherwise stunningly inaccurate volume. His account of the Fatima miracle is at least consistent with that of respected Catholic author William Thomas Walsh. Other than that, this book is pretty much worthless in terms of historical truth.

See How God Works in the World!.......1999-09-07

So many separate events --- the First World War, the ascension of Emperor Charles of Austria, the failure of his peace plan, the reign of Czar Nicholas of Russia, the shenanigans of Rasputin, the collapse of Russia's first revolutionary government and the rise of Lenin --- all these are tied together to show that God really is in control. The appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Portugal in that fateful year of 1917 brings it all home. I have long been fascinated by the events of the Russian Revolution, but until I read this book I had only a vague notion of the pattern, the proof, that these were not just random events happening without reason. Human beings brought about the terrible First World War, and all the tragedies and disasters that led to Russia's fall to Communism. But God has managed to let all things work for good, ultimately. This is a fascinating and educational book. Enjoy it!

Fascinating and well-written history.......1998-10-24

1917 was the year the USA entered WWI, the year of the Communist revolution, and the year of Our Lady of Fatima. This book ties these three stories together with fascinating accounts and riveting anecdotes. Read about the year's great leaders and their attempts to re-shape the world, while all along, in a peaceful village in Portugal, the Queen of Heaven had the formula for peace. The book is a must for anyone studying WWI and the Communist revolution. First rate Catholic history.

Born Red: A Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution

Average customer rating:

Best account of the Cultural Revolution
An Interesting Memoir
"Lord of the Flies" and "1984" at a national scale.
Descent into Hell
Tales of the Easily Led

Born Red: A Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution
Yuan Gao
Manufacturer: Stanford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0804713693

Customer Reviews:

Best account of the Cultural Revolution.......2006-10-14

I read this book when I was 19, and I still remember it vividly. It tells you about China's Cultural Revolution from the perspective of a Chinese young man. The author writes about his experiences as a witness, a perpetrator and ultimately a victim of those crazy times. He doesn't gloss over his own crimes, everything appears vivid and touchable, like you were there at the time. His fight with his father, destroying 1000-year old temples, humiliating their teachers and being humiliated themselves. Ultimately it leaves you with a sense of bitterness of the story not continuing and glad that most things have changed for the better in China. Get this book for a firsthand account of the Cultural Revolution from a perpetrator who has redeemed himself by writing about his experiences.

An Interesting Memoir.......2005-11-27

Gao does a wonderful job in writing a really engrossing memoir of his experiences during the Cultural Revolution. His is a story that should be told.

I was a bit surprised by other reviewers who saw this book as evidence of the stereotypical "easily-brainwashed Chinese." Such generalizations feed an overly simplistic view of history - if you read this (and other books on the Cultural Revolution) without attempting to project preconceived notions onto the characters, I think you'll find that Gao and his friends had their own reasons for their actions, and the story will seem much more rich for it.

"Lord of the Flies" and "1984" at a national scale........2004-01-23

"Born Red" is a fascinating and horrifying book recounting one boy's experiences during the Cultural Revolution. As an American, steeped in our culture from birth, I find it is nearly impossible to truly grasp a culture that would permit the kind of reflexive parroting of official party line to take hold as it did in China (and continues today in North Korea).

The book does a fine job of painting Mao as a cult leader that succeeded in making himself a virual infallible god in the eyes of the citizenry, pushing one socialistic national program after another that were universally irrational and doomed from the get-go. The book showcases a unique traditional asian culture that promotes/permits this lemming-like following of "the leader", migrating blindly into disaster.

To me, one of the most fascinating aspects of "Born Red" is the apparently honest and heartfelt attempts by the citizenry to, at one level, mentally embrace and pursue the communist paradise promised by Mao while, at a much more personal and everyday level, actions that are more practical, rational, pragmatic, selfish, carnal, and capitalistic prevailed. In "Born Red" one sees students memorizing entire books written by Mao, formally criticizing others/themselves endlessly, and violently persecuting those that are PERCEIVED to be even one iota less than 100% loyal to the official party line (as they see it) -- all the while these same students guiltlessly steal, cheat the system, seek and peddle influence, lie, rape, even murder. The contrast is striking and impossible to reconcile.

The other horrific lesson one takes away from "Born Red" is how easily these chinese students (representative of the entire nation) could so easily be compelled to completely and quickly alter, even reverse, their allegiances and internal mindsets -- those who were enemies could, overnight, become allies; that which was wrong one day would (upon authorized dictate) be considered right the next day; a political system (Capitalism) that was seen as the greatest evil in the world would, within a decade, be officially lauded as the road to national success -- all of these flipflops seemingly being accepted by everyone without the batting of an eye or otherwise questioning the irrationality of it all. This aspect of the tale is strikingly reminiscent of Orwell's "1984".

My biggest single criticism of "Born Red" is the level of detail in which the author recounts his lifestory. Countless conversations are recalled word for word; minute details, complex sequences of events, names & places are described in apparently flawless detail in spite of the decades that have passed. I don't begrudge dramatic reconstructions "based upon factual events" but I do think they should be identified as such.

"Born Red" is a quick and easy read -- it should be manditory reading for all High School govenment or social studies classes.

Descent into Hell.......2003-10-28

Two things have always amazed me in people's attitudes toward dictatorships: (1) The lengths to which supporters, particularly intellectuals, of the ideology (usually state socialism) go to refute, ignore, explain or justify the brutalities occurring under those regimes. (2) Once sanity has returned, there is an utter lack of apology, self-criticism and recognition of support for such evil.

Unlike Germany, neither China nor Russia have been particularly singled out by the culturally elite, despite the recognition that both nations behaved abhorantly toward the academic and intellectual community. This was nowhere more true than in the "People's Republic". How is it possible for such an ancient culture to descend into madness on such a grand scale? But in a hermetically enclosed place and with an ideology that promoted irrationality people, and particularly youth, can be manipulated into performing awful deeds.

Yuan Gao was away at school and was swept up in a fervor that gripped a nation far worse than any religious trauma. China was turned into a nation in which every citizen was suspect unless they participated fully in the madness itself. It was something so horrible and so unbelievable that even today the subject is rarely broached. The human cost of communism is a subject that should receive more attention (but hasn't) and this story, as terrible and heart-breaking as it is, should help this lack of focus.

In the end, he did escape the madness but the horrors of those times will remain with him - and CHina - forever. It is only slowly that Mao has been transformed from a god into something approaching his true, unstable self.

Tales of the Easily Led.......2002-03-05

Here Gao Yuan provides a personal account of the political insanity of China's Cultural Revolution, which he was swept up into as a teenager. Chairman Mao's instructions to the youths of the countryside to ferret out those who weren't "revolutionary" or "pure" enough quickly lead to the real-life "Lord of the Flies" scenario that we can see in this book. Now I'm certainly no expert on Chinese history, but Mao's attempt to lead the people to a glorious revolution through the elimination of so-called enemies hardly made the population stronger and ready to move forward to his glorious communist future. This would require teamwork and cooperation among all people. Instead the Cultural Revolution made everyone suspicious of everyone else, as people were desperate to prove how righteous they were by ferreting out class enemies. If you couldn't find any enemies, you just made them up. Whoever was the loudest and most violent won the battle, and proof went out the window.

Gao Yuan was swept up in this insanity, and in the beginning of his narrative he enjoyed proving his revolutionary zeal by "outing" the teachers at his school who supposedly were not righteous or revolutionary enough, and participated in destroying many of their careers. But Gao stopped having so much fun when the lives of his friends, his family, and finally himself were destroyed. Instead of the unified force of revolutionary youth that Mao envisioned, the logical outcome was the disintegration of the youth movement into smaller and smaller factions, who merely used Mao's instructions as an excuse to bully each other and consolidate power. Gao is not afraid to admit to his own evil acts, such as when he participated in the beating of a teenage girl, pulled a meat cleaver on his own father, or when he helped destroy a hospital, all because he was lead to believe that his politics were more righteous than everyone else's. He then watches helplessly as the countryside descends into factionalism and anarchy. Some parts of this book are quite alarming, as the youths digress into torture and warfare, and many of Gao's friends are severely injured or killed in the factional fighting.

Book Description

In 1966 twelve-year-old Fan Shen, a newly minted Red Guard, plunged happily into China’s Cultural Revolution. Disillusion soon followed, then turned to disgust and fear when Shen discovered that his compatriots had tortured and murdered a doctor whose house he’d helped raid and whose beautiful daughter he secretly adored. A story of coming of age in the midst of monumental historical upheaval, Shen’s Gang of One is more than a memoir of one young man’s harrowing experience during a time of terror. It is also, in spite of circumstances of remarkable grimness and injustice, an unlikely picaresque tale of adventure full of courage, cunning, wit, tenacity, resourcefulness, and sheer luck—the story of how Shen managed to scheme his way through a hugely oppressive system and emerge triumphant.

Gang of One recounts how Shen escaped, again and again, from his appointed fate, as when he somehow found himself a doctor at sixteen and even, miraculously, saved a few lives. In such volatile times, however, good luck could quickly turn to misfortune: a transfer to the East Wind Aircraft Factory got him out of the countryside and into another terrible trap, where many people were driven to suicide; his secret self-education took him from the factory to college, where friendship with an American teacher earned him the wrath of the secret police. Following a path strewn with perils and pitfalls, twists and surprises worthy of Dickens, Shen’s story is ultimately an exuberant human comedy unlike any other.

Customer Reviews:

A Brilliant Memoir.......2007-10-20

I think this is perhaps the best memoir I've read by someone who survived the infamous Chinese Cultural Revolution. Many other authors have tried to capture the chaos and pain it has caused them, but Fan Shen outdoes them all. I'm glad he told his story, or other people would never know how horrible things really were at that time. Each chapter in this book is captivating, and its hard to put it down. It is also extremely sad, and at the end of the book you wish you knew Fan Shen so you could at least talk with him and give him a hug. :(

These chinese are wacky!!!.......2007-10-08

A fascinating look inside the chinese mindset. A must read for anyone who wants to know about the crazy history of the Red Guard, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Also provides a great insight into how the chinese operate today. Fan Shen tells a story that will stick with you as you purchase your next "made in China" item.

Savor It.......2007-05-06

I spent about 8 months reading Dr. Shen's book -- not because it bored me, and not because it was overly long. This is just one of those books that needs to be savored in order to be properly enjoyed. It's also one of those books that you really don't want to finish.

Savor it. :)

Almost Unbelieveable.......2007-04-27

This is the story of a boy who, from a revolutionary family, eagerly joins the Red Guards at the outset of the Cultural Revolution. As Fan Shen comes of age, he realizes that the Cultural Revolution is a disaster and this book is the story of his attempt to find a way to achieve an acceptable life.

It is readily apparent that Fan is a very clever fellow as well as an intellectually gifted individual. The tales that he recounts are alternatively horrifying, sad, depressing and humorous. As he tells of his experiences, the reader can only imagine the horrors of the Cultural Revolution when you multiply his experiences by the 800 million or so others who lived through the same era.

Fan is a wonderful author and can tell a story exceedingly well. At times, however, the reader is left wondering whether we are actually getting an accurate recounting of Fan's earlier years. The stories he tells are truly beyond belief and, at times, seem to be a bit self-serving. Whether or not this is the case, the book deserves a read by anyone interested in China today or in recent Chinese history.

This book is a must read.......2006-09-22

Dr. Shen is a teacher at the college in MN I attended. It was amazing to read about the life of one of the smartest, kindest people you will ever meet. He isn't an easy teacher, but when you finish your master's degree in a year and a half and your PHD in five years what else would you expect. If you want to read a true story that will leave you in amazed this is book that you will want to pick up. But don't just take my word for it, read it for yourself.

Blood Red Sunset: A Memoir of the Chinese Cultural Revolution

Average customer rating:

Amazing and quite revealing
Never forget the waste that is Communism
lacking
The greatest book I've read so far about the revolution
A good book for people who want a first perspective

Blood Red Sunset: A Memoir of the Chinese Cultural Revolution
Ma Bo
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

History | Chinese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Chinese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Chinese Books | Chinese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140159428

Customer Reviews:

Amazing and quite revealing.......2006-04-24

This is an absolutely phenomenal book. There's so much about the Cultural Revolution and the early days of Communist China that just gets glossed over in history classes and general books about the country. Ma Bo was on the inside of it all, and despite his unflinching belief in Communist ideals, was nonetheless punished by the very system he had so much faith in.

I was worried that this book would be tainted by the stain of moralizing one way or the other. What a relief it is to read on such a charged subject and not be preached at. Ma Bo simply tells his story, and you take away from it whatever you will. There's deep understanding of what motivated the Chinese then (and to one degree or other still motivates them today), and there is much to be learned from this tale.

Whatever your thoughts on Communism, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is at all curious about this major chapter in modern Chinese history.

Never forget the waste that is Communism.......2004-08-19

Any student of Communism must read this book. Anyone who forgot what Communism is must read this book. I never cease to be amazed at what evil mankind wrought upon itself when Communism entered the world's stage. I cannot conceive of what it must have been like to suffer through such nonsense. Ma Bo tells it like it was, that the period from 1966 - 1976 was a gaping cultural wound that the Chinese public still suffers from.

Stories of beatings, torture, sycophancy, and greed permeate these pages. There really is nothing positive to say about the time period. It is chilling. I had to read this book for my history of Modern China as an undergraduate, some 10 years ago. It still remains with me.

Anyone who remains a Communist after reading this book must needs have much to answer for.

lacking.......2000-03-09

Expecting to hear tales of families and everyday people, this book is instead about a student, Ma Bo, who took up the fight with the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. Though Bo tells some interesting stories about how the Red Guard worked, and how ignorant those in power seemed to be, he also feels very sorry for himself and how he was treated. One tires of the whining. Beyond that, some of the translation seemed to use vernacular that was inappropriate or dated. Overall, a disappointment.

The greatest book I've read so far about the revolution.......1999-05-05

Great book. Msut read. Broke my heart

A good book for people who want a first perspective.......1998-11-10

of the Cultural Revolution in China. I've read the book and I think it's the most enchanting and detailed book on the Cultural Revolution in existance. It has graphical details, horriable truths, and a very nice translation by Howard Goldblatt. A must for students studying the Cultural Revolution!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books

John Adams	Truman	Mornings on Horseback
The Path Between the Seas	The Great Bridge	The Johnstown Flood

The Great Improvisation by Stacy Schiff	Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer	His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
Washington's General by Terry Golway	Iron Tears by Stanley Weintraub	Victory at Yorktown by Richard M. Ketchum