Long March 1934-35: The rise of Mao and the beginning of modern China

The Long March was the Chinese Nationalists' escape from 80,000 men, women, and children in 1934. It was the longest continuous march in military history, with fewer than 4,000 survivors. This book tells the story of resilience and how the survivors grew the army that conquered China 14 years later.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 19 September 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Every nation has its founding myth, and for modern China, it is the Long March. In the autumn of 1934, the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek routed the Chinese Communists, and some 80,000 men, women, and children left their homes to walk with Mao Zedong into the unknown. Mao's force had to endure starvation, harsh climates, and challenging terrain while under constant aerial bombardment and threatened by daily skirmishes. The Long March survivors had to cross 24 rivers and 18 mountain ranges, through freezing snow and disease-ridden wilderness, to reach their safe haven of Yan'an. In military terms, the Long March was the longest continuous march in the history of warfare, and it came at a terrible cost—after one year, 6,000 miles, and countless battles, fewer than 4,000 of the original marchers were left. Illustrated with stunning full-color artwork, this enthralling book tells the full story of this epic display of resilience and shows how, from the desert plateau of Yan'an, these survivors would grow the army that conquered China 14 years on, changing history forever.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 246 x 184 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472834010