USED BOOK fading of spine, minor bumps on cover.

Written by Gerolamo Fazzini

Published by Ignatius Press 2009, paperback, 339 pages

This powerful book presents documents spanning the war between the Communists and Chinese Nationalists in the mid-1940s up to 1983,shortly before the modernization promoted after Mao’s death. These arememoirs of those who have experienced in their own flesh how far violenceof a power blinded by ideology can go, a power which, after winningits battle against armed forces, decided to exterminate its “enemies withoutgun”, as Mao called intellectuals, believers, and opponents.From the historical perspective these are valuable sources, especially foranyone who wants to learn about the injustices and brutality of Maoism.Only recently have non-specialists had access to autobiographical testimoniesconcerning the laogi, the Chinese forced labor camps.

For years ideological baggage encumbering journalism about Chinaseverly limited opportunities for hearing stories of Christian persecutionand martyrdom, however, after decades of propaganda, we are finally seeinga “demythologization” of Mao, a man responsible for crimes equal toor even worse than those of Stalin and Hitler.

In this book one can see what a tragedy has befallen the Chinese people,in particular the believers. But all this has not destroyed their faith.