The Tragedy of Liberation

A History of the Chinese Revolution 1945-1957

By: Frank Dikotter

Narrated by: Bruce Mann

Following the defeat of Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, after a bloody civil war, Mao hoisted the red flag over Beijing's Forbidden City, and the world watched as the Communist revolution began to wash away the old order. Due to the secrecy surrounding the country's records, little has been known before now about the eight years that followed, preceding the massive famine and Great Leap Forward.

Drawing on hundreds of previously classified documents, secret police reports, unexpurgated versions of leadership speeches, eyewitness accounts of those who survived, and more, The Tragedy of Liberation bears witness to a shocking, largely untold history. Interweaving stories of ordinary citizens with tales of the brutal politics of Mao's court, Frank Dikötter illuminates those who shaped the "liberation" and the horrific policies they implemented in the name of progress. People of all walks of life were caught up in the tragedy that unfolded, and whether or not they supported the revolution, all of them were asked to write confessions, denounce their friends, and answer queries about their political reliability. One victim of thought reform called it a "carefully cultivated Auschwitz of the mind". Told with great narrative sweep, The Tragedy of Liberation is a powerful and important document giving voice at last to the millions who were lost and casting new light on the foundations of one of the most powerful regimes of the 21st century.

©2013 Frank Dikotter (P)2020 Tantor

the narration is abysmal

the content was interesting and so was the writing. it's unfortunate that the narrator is so horrendous. he ends almost every sentence like a question. I don't know how it was allowed to be published like that. garbage.

Robotic narrator

Though it is well researched, Frank Dikötter is not the most captivating storyteller.
the narrator was terrible. robotic, dry, hard to listen to

Broad History on a relatively short period

The pace of the history kept things moving at a brisk pace. Does not get bogged down in political details or dates. Instead gives little examples of experiences and brief vignettes. It’s at an introductory level. Doesn’t spend a ton of time on party politics or international context but enough to keep you grounded. Focused on the experience of the general population. I liked it enough that I intend to listen to the remainder of the trilogy.

Well informed history of Mao rule of China 1945 - 1957.

Performance needs a better narrator for the store to keep the reader attracted. The history was well informed well explained I would share this book with other people about Mao rule 1945-1957. The author explained everything well in very intriguing.

The worst read by

It's better if the narrator doesn't do this job from the start. The publisher might want to hire a different performer to read this important book. It truly needs a talented voice. As it stands, this performer doesn't match the significance of the work. Horrible narrator!