John Gittings, Asian specialist of the "Guardian" newspaper, analyzes the political, social and cultural changes which have taken place in China during the past four decades. Among the many topics examined are the Cultural Revolution and how the Chinese view it now, the evolving theories of socialism and the new tolerance of capitalism and enthusiasm for foreign trade, student demonstrations, the commune experiment and why it failed, the conservative backlash against reform and the changing fortunes of political figures such as Lin Biao, the Gang of Four and Deng Xiaoping. The shifting attitudes and desires of the Chinese are also illustrated with contemporary political posters, woodcuts and papercuts. A chronological guide lists major events in China since the Revolution. This book has been written for anyone interested in China - the general reader, visitor or student - and contains many quotes from Mao, dissident writers, Red Guards, Party bureaucrats, peasants, new entrepreneurs, protesting students, young reformers and others.