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Forgotten Voices of Mao's Great Famine, 1958-1962

An Oral History

Xun Zhou author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Yale University Press

Published:26th Nov '13

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Forgotten Voices of Mao's Great Famine, 1958-1962 cover

This book reveals the personal stories of those who survived China's Great Famine, highlighting the human cost of a disastrous political campaign.

In Forgotten Voices of Mao's Great Famine, 1958-1962, readers are guided through the harrowing experiences of those who lived through one of China's darkest periods. The Great Leap Forward, initiated by Mao Zedong in 1958, aimed to rapidly transform China into a socialist society but instead resulted in catastrophic failures. The agricultural and industrial sectors crumbled under the weight of this ambitious plan, leading to a famine that would claim the lives of over 45 million people. This account is not merely a historical narrative; it is a poignant collection of personal testimonies that brings the human cost of this tragedy to the forefront.

The voices captured in Forgotten Voices of Mao's Great Famine, 1958-1962 span a diverse spectrum of society. From city dwellers to rural peasants, each survivor shares their unique perspective on loss, suffering, and resilience. The oral histories reveal the profound impact of the famine on families and communities, showcasing the deep scars left by this man-made disaster. The stories of parents mourning their children and children recounting their experiences of being orphaned paint a vivid picture of the emotional toll taken by the famine.

This remarkable oral history serves not only as a remembrance of a tragic event but also as a critical examination of the societal implications that continue to resonate in modern China. By bringing these voices to light, Forgotten Voices of Mao's Great Famine, 1958-1962 sheds light on a chapter of history that remains officially unacknowledged, inviting readers to reflect on the lessons learned from this profound tragedy.

“A terrific book. . . . The content is original, authentic and compelling; the first-hand accounts of ‘forgotten voices’ come to life vividly. The author’s personal narrative describing how the interviews were elicited is a fascinating contemporary commentary on the continuing lack of openness in Chinese civil society and the difficulties of getting to the truth, even about events that happened decades ago.”—Gerard Lemos, author of The End of the Chinese Dream: Why Chinese People Fear the Future -- Gerard Lemos
“Anyone who wants to understand what it was like to live through the most horrific man-made famine in history should read this. Zhou Xun has given voice to the kind of people whose views are never heard or reported. It makes you both angry and sad at the same time. It shows how little people even now understood what happened to them or why.”—Jasper Becker, author of Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine -- Jasper Becker
“The Maoist regime insisted that the great famine of 1958-1962 was a natural disaster, but it actually resulted from the reckless policies and a pitiless disregard for human life of the regime itself. Zhou Xun’s meticulous and sensitive oral history allows survivors of the famine to tell their stories for the first time. She rectifies a great historic injustice by enabling the victims to put their harrowing ordeal into the historic record.”—Steve Smith, All Souls College, Oxford University -- Steve Smith
“Zhuo Xun is the first Chinese scholar to present oral history accounts of the famine to the English-speaking reader. She deserves great credit for her fearless and sometimes painful collection of these voices. —Felix Wemheuer, Family and Communities History Journal -- Felx Wemheuer * Family & Communities History Journal *

ISBN: 9780300184044

Dimensions: 210mm x 140mm x 24mm

Weight: 567g

336 pages