$10.

One of the iconic works on the Chinese revolution, the writer spends a few months behind the red lines in northwest China during 1936-37, where he meets and interviews such luminaries as Mao Tse Tung himself. What is impressive is the sheer number of personalities the author is able to meet and interview, and the short biographies that he has been able to compile as an appendix. Of course, at this length of time, the average reader cannot be expected to get so involved in the personae, especially given the utter unfamiliarity and the multiplicity of the Chinese names and pseudonyms. Also, most of them come out sounding ever so reasonable and rational, giving no inkling of the future disasters caused by, for instance, Mao's disastrous policies. The present edition is dated 1968, so the author has seen the development of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. ( )

'Red Star Over China-', I was eighteen years old when I bumped into Professor Paramjit Singh Kalsi at the local public library. The learned Professor bade me sit down with him and we started discussing our Sikh faith and its long revolutionary history. Suddenly, he excitedly inquired whether I had ever read 'Red Star Over China.' I half-expected that my no would deflate his excitement but it only increased his passion. Observing his ardor, I actually ordered the book from the local library and commenced reading it.

I remain forever indebted to Professor Kalsi and Edgar Snow. One for guiding me towards the book and the other for writing it. I am not a Communist, nor Marxist. Neither do I believe that my political views fit into the left-right binary. But what fascinated me about 'Red Star' was its description of how Mao built up a revolution from the grassroots level and ushered in the China we know today.

Obviously, one can make the argument that China has regressed from Marxism's more Utopian aims but then Marxism was a Utopian ideal after all. However-as callous as this may sound-'Red Star' is not a record of China's human rights abuses. Rather, it portrays the history which ushered in its current manifestation. 'Red Star' is neither for Sinophiles nor their opponents. It is a must read for all organizers and leaders who envision themselves leading a future revolution. ( )

I had hoped to get more insight about Mao, but it doesn't deliver. Snow does do a good job of setting the scene, illustrating well the fog that makes interpreting the present a challenge, let alone predicting the future. ( )

Snow's account of his time with Mao and his army after the Long March is fascinating, but you have to keep Snow's sympathies in mind as you read. Of course, in 1937 perhaps he couldn't imagine the horrors that lay in store for China under Mao's rule. ( )