CHINA IN REVOLUTION

In a somewhat simpler, certainly abbreviated form, the content and many of the concepts of Goldston's Rise of Red China (featuring the Revolution) and Scott's China: The Hungry Dragon (centering on the Communist regime). The three major sections--Sun Yat-sen, Mao and Chiang, Communist China--represent three stages, the first two personalized (i.e. circumscribed Old China as seen in Sun's boyhood); chapter headings and sub-headings comprise a continuous outline; maps and photos are usefully disposed throughout. For all its appearance of a text, this is not a skeletal treatment; in contrast to Spencer (below), a clear causative chain is established, most notably in regard to Communist aims and tactics and strategic retreats from the first cell through the Kiangsi-Hunan Soviet, the Long March (""also an agitation corps""--Mao), consolidation in the Red Border Region and infiltration of Japanese-held areas--while the idle Kuomintang weakened internally and with the people. Thus, given the stubborn obtuseness of Chiang and his failure, while in power, to better the lot of the peasants, Communist victory became inevitable; what it has meant, in terms of self-respect and repression, is dealt with fairly in the long concluding section. Also included, and also assessed a propos of Sun's Three Principles--nationalism, socialism, democracy--is a brief but thorough resume of China's foreign relations. To the extent that 20th century China can be reduced to 150 pages less pictures, this is a good job; considering that many youngsters want just that, it should be good to have around.