Mao: The Unknown Story

The most authoritative life of Mao ever, by the bestselling author of "Wild Swans" and her husband. Based on a decade of research, this is the most authoritative life of Mao ever written. It is full of startling revelations, exploding the myth of the Long March, and showing a completely unknown Mao. After Mao conquered China in 1949, his secret goal was to dominate the world. In chasing this dream he caused the deaths of 38 million people in the greatest famine in history. In all, 70 million Chinese perished under Mao's rule - in peacetime. Combining meticulous history with the story-telling style of Jung Chang's novel, "Wild Swans", this biography makes immediate Mao's roller-coaster life. The reader enters the shadowy chambers of Mao's court, and eavesdrops on the drama in its hidden recesses. Mao's character and the enormity of his behaviour towards his wives, mistresses and children are unveiled for the first time.

Jung Chang is the author of the award-winning Wild Swans. Jon Halliday is a former Senior Visiting Research Fellow at King's College, University of London. He has written or edited eight previous books. Sam Dastor is an acclaimed actor with a wealth of film and television roles to his name including: The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The Alchemists and A Touch of Frost. Sam appears regularly at the National Theatre and in productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company both in London and Stratford-upon-Avon. He is a widely experienced audio book reader.