Mao Zedong

The biographies in this series combine in-depth accounts of the person's life with a series of key questions for discussion and debate.

Extensive primary evidence is quoted both for and against the topics, before the readers are invited to judge for themselves.

The most important figure in 20th century China, Mao Zedong was born the son of a peasant in 1893.

As effective ruler of China from foundation of the People's Republic in 1949 until his death in 1976, he led his country through long years of unparalleled turbulence and tragedy.