"A milestone in Western studies of China" -John K. Fairbank In this mansterfut, highly original approach to modern Chinese his-1055s onashan 1. Spence shows us the Chinese revolution through the eyes of its most articulate participants- the weiters, historians, philosophers, and insurrectionists who shaped and were shaped by the turbulent events of this century. By skillfully combining literary materials with the more conventional sources of political and social history, Mr. Spence provides an unparalleled look at China and her people and offers valuable insight into the continuing conflict between the implacable power of the state and the strivings of China's artists, writers, and thinkers. "Absolutely first rate; it is adventurous in form, scrupulous in con-tent, passionate in its revelation of complex human drama." — Saturday Review