Shop top categories that ship internationally
Buy used:
$8.72
$12.09 delivery December 16 - January 7. Details
Used: Good | Details
Sold by ThriftBooks-Phoenix
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Jonathan Fenby
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Penguin History of Modern China: The Fall and Rise of a Great Power, 1850 to the Present Paperback – June 1, 2013

by Jonathan Fenby (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 183 ratings
See all formats and editions
In 1850, China was the "sick man of Asia." Now it is set to become the most powerful nation on earth. The Penguin History of Modern China shows how turbulent that journey has been. For 150 years China has endured as victim of oppression, war, and famine. This makes its current position as arguably the most important global superpower all the more extraordinary. Jonathan Fenby's comprehensive account is the definitive guide to this remarkable transformation.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    816 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 1.6 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0141975156
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0141975153
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His book is a miracle of thoroughness, truthfulness and readability—the perfect primer for a time when China is about to enter all our lives."  —Sunday Telegraph


"[It] reads like a novel and is never less than thoughtful and compassionate for the fate of a much-abused people. . . [Fenby has] a journalist's eye for telling detail."  —Herald

"Taut, anecdote-studded. . . a great introduction for a general audience, with vivid scene setting and character sketches."  —Sunday Times

"For an accessible, authoritative, fair and comprehensive and well written account, this would be hard to better."  —BBC History

"A wonderful history of modern China and a cracking good read."  —Chris Patten, Chancellor, University of Oxford

About the Author

Jonathan Fenby, CBE, has been the editor of the Observer and the South China Morning Post. His books include Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost and Dealing with the Dragon: A Year in the New Hong Kong. He is currently editor-in-chief and China editor of the analytical service, Trusted Sources.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin; Second Edition, Second edition (June 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 816 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141975156
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141975153
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.6 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 183 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jonathan Fenby

Jonathan Fenby

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
183 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book interesting, eye-opening, and fascinating. They also say it's comprehensive and worth reading.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
DetailValue for money
9 customers mention "Detail"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, detailed, and accurate. They say it reveals some truly eye-opening facts about China in the last 100 years. Readers also mention the content isn't too technical, making it easier to comprehend. They describe the book as a great primer on the vast subject of Chinese history.

"...Maybe I should buy reading glasses... In all, a very good piece of reportage and hence a good read." Read more

"...The description of events has its pros and cons. Pros: accumulation of facts, interesting detail and accuracy. Con: lost the perspective...." Read more

"...This book is truly eye opening even for someone like me who though I have read several books on Chinese history already...." Read more

"Because this is a condensed history it's very rich with detail and can be a bit much to take in all at once sometime...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers say the book is worth reading.

"Excellent book for me who only recently has begun to try to understand China. Great to have along on a trip in China...." Read more

"...Definitely worth the read!" Read more

"Good book!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Tina
5.0 out of 5 stars This is how history should be written.
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
A rather dense book, packed with facts, and written in a lively style that keeps one engaged. Goes through Xi's early years so fairly, but of course not perfectly, current. One negative for me is the small size of the pages and hence the rather small size of the type. Maybe I should buy reading glasses... In all, a very good piece of reportage and hence a good read.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
madman
4.0 out of 5 stars 159 years of recent history of China from 1850 to 2009
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
Very detailed history of China until 1989. The last episode of history to 2007, is treated fairly general. The description of events has its pros and cons. Pros: accumulation of facts, interesting detail and accuracy. Con: lost the perspective.

In my opinion the book is not intended for beginners. It is essential reading for history enthusiasts.

159 years of recent history of China from 1850 to 2009

Among others:

Anti-foreign Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901)
End to the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China (1911–12)
The birth of communism
The birth of the nationalist movement
The Warlord Era (1916–1928)
The May Fourth Movement (1919)
Chinese Civil War (1927-1950)
The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945)
The People's Republic of China (October 1949)
Hundred Flowers Movement (1956)
Great Leap Forward (1958-1962)
The Sino-Soviet split (1960–89)
Cultural Revolution (from 1966 until the mid-1970s)
Gang of Four
Deng Xiaoping (significant economic reforms)
Student protests in Tiananmen Square (1989)

Note: mediocre edition version of the kindle. Some words merge into several dozen streams.
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jochen Mueller
5.0 out of 5 stars History of Modern China
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
Excellent book for me who only recently has begun to try to understand China. Great to have along on a trip in China. The only criticism I have is that dates should be more numerous and clearly defined
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
RichieB
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for everyone with any intelligence
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
Fascinating!!! I originally bought this book for my daughter who is studying abroad in China. When I picked it up I was surprised that it read like a soap opera in many places. The writing style quite literally prevented me from putting it down. This book is truly eye opening even for someone like me who though I have read several books on Chinese history already. The cover says it is essential for understanding the country and its people, and I agree.
18 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John N Cederquist
4.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed at 750 pages
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
I am happy with the book but it may be too long for me to read all of it. I will p into chapters until I get to Mao.
Helpful
 Report
CO
5.0 out of 5 stars Great primer on the vast subject of Chinese history
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2018
Verified Purchase
Illuminating. Riveting. If you're a History buff, get this.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Xiao L.
5.0 out of 5 stars He like it so much
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book is a gift for my friend. He like it so much. Thank you very much for providing this amaziong history book!
Helpful
 Report
Victoria W Sadeq
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
Good book!
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Severus
4.0 out of 5 stars An informative and relevant book
Reviewed in Sweden on August 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
The subject matter - History of modern China - is rather extensive and complex; nevertheless, the author focus on 1850 to the present (around 2018) in six main parts, within some approximate dates:
Part 1: End of Empire (1850-1911)
Part 2: Revolution and Republic (1911-1929)
Part 3: Wars without End (1931-1949)
Part 4: The rule of Mao (1949-1976)
Part 5: The age of Deng (1976-1997)
Part 6: Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping (1997- to present 2018)
Enough information is provided for the general history interested reader - like myself - to obtain a basic understanding of modern China's history, and perhaps motivation for further studies on such a fascinating country, so relevant to the world of today. I thank the author and all involve for a job well done!
Report
thegreenhillsofafrica
5.0 out of 5 stars From emperor to emperor to emperor
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
China was a totalitarian state in the ancient past under its string of emperors; the 20th century, Communist Revolution and the rise to power of Mao carried that form of rule forward; totalitarianism continued after his death, any subsequent attempt at reform did not alter it and it remains China’s reality. The idea in the West, that bringing China into the loop of economic prosperity would result in democracy in Beijing, has proven to be false. Communist China remains an empire run by emperors who brook no dissent and no free elections and few, if any, human rights.

A well-written and well-documented volume, but you will need a strong stomach to read about the millions murdered during Mao’s decades in power.
Report
Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Small print
Reviewed in India on September 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very tiny print
Report
Adrian J. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best volume on Modern China money can buy!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2011
Verified Purchase
A staggering, vast volume, chronicling a decisive era of not only Chinese, but also, world history, Fenby's History delivers a detailed, enlightening, and thoroughly readable study.
Beginning in the mid 1850s with China's unequal treaties, and the subsequent foreign intervention and humiliation, Fenby proceeds to describe everything that constitutes the fall described in the title. We learn of the details of the Opium War, the rise of the real power behind the throne, Dowager Empress Cixi, the subsequent ill fated 100 days reform, and the more famous Boxer Rebellion, with greater detail given to this often misunderstood movement that has frequently captured the Western imagination.
In comparison to previous histories this reader has studied, greater attention is given to more essential details such as the fall of the Imperial Court in 1912, the short lived Republic, and the Warlord Era. One learns why Chiang Kai Shek ultimately lost control of the Mainland, due in part to shouldering the burden of resistance to the Japanese, but equally due to the cronyism and inefficiency of his own administration.
Fenby provides a very detailed portrait of the WWII period, revealing a careful game of diplomacy wherein both the United States and the USSR took an approach toward China moulded on little more than self interest. Roosevelt, or more specifically, the various Generals and Civil Servants despatched to assist with the war effort, and policy, showed little understanding of China, and were more concerned with events in Europe. This is evinced in Madame Chiang's fruitless trip to the US at the end of the War.
Stalin, on the other hand, viewed China with secondary concern, wanting little more than a vassal state, regardless of whether it was ruled by the Communist Party, the Guomindang, or as he suggested, a coalition government. This was in part, due to his desire to avoid an attack on the Soviet Far East from Japan, evinced in his refusal to meet Chiang, but even in the event of the eventual communist victory, Stalin and his successors regarded their Chinese counterparts as "margarine communists" and little more than agricultural reformers. Indeed, the Sino-Soviet split was rooted in the Soviet desire for China to be little more than a vassal state, rather than a power in its own right.
The rule, or rather misrule, of Mao is presented in decidedly non-romantic terms, describing the abject disaster of the Great Leap Forward, and the bizarre horror of the Cultural Revolution. Fenby provides greater detail than one has previously divulged in detailing the machinations against Liu Shaoqi, and the mysterious flight of Lin Biao.
At times the section on Mao has a mild resemblance to Jung Chang's Mao: The Unknown Story, which appears in this volumes bibliography. This may be disappointing for those seeking a less derisive study of Mao's rule, however this chapter lacks the vitriol and scorn found within the Jung Chang book.
The study of the age of Deng is a definite plus within the book, describing the Paramount Leaders outmanoeuvring of Hua Guofeng and his consolidation of power. Fenby gives particular importance to the role of the 8 Immortals and their continuing influence, describing the period as a power struggle between radicals and conservatives, that led to a head in 1989.
Devoting a decent 3 chapters to perhaps the biggest stain on China's image of the past few decades, the Tiananmen Square Massacre, Fenby provides details that are often overlooked by other Westerners covering the event, how the protests were not as peaceful as commonly believed, how force was not readily used by the PLA forces, and how the movement in many ways used whatever forceful means at its disposal to resist the evacuation of the square.
For those who have been tuned into China's current events since the late 90s, the final section on Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao may provide little new material, but one is treated to a highly readable overview of the continuation the economic boom, and the strengths and failings of Deng's successors.
Fenby concludes with a well reasoned overview of the strengths and internal contradictions of modern China, in many ways delivering on the title chronicling China's rise, in contrast to it's earlier fall.
What one has in Fenby's volume is a highly readable and informative account of this crucial period of Chinese history that is increasingly consequential for the world at large.
A book that is strongly recommended for both new comers to the study of China, and experienced China hands, or those who would like a highly engaging study of modern history.
Report
Jochen Mueller
5.0 out of 5 stars China modern history
Reviewed in Germany on September 16, 2009
Verified Purchase
an excellent book entirely readable for people like me who are not history scientists. I haste to add that I believe it would be valuable also for the latter not only for amateurs who want to know more about modern Chinese history. Even though the book contains plenty of details the reader is not lost. The author has succeeded in describing Chinese history which is very complex indeed in a lively fashion.
Report