Poets of the Chinese Revolution

A book of poems by four veteran Chinese revolutionaries, including Chen Duxiu, Mao Zedong, Zheng Chaolin, and Chen Yi, explores the complex relationship between the Communist revolution and Chinese cultural tradition.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 25 June 2019
Publisher: Verso Books

This book is a collection of poems written by four veteran Chinese revolutionaries: Chen Duxiu, Mao Zedong, Zheng Chaolin, and Chen Yi. Chen Duxiu played a crucial role in China's early cultural awakening before founding the Communist Party in 1921. Mao led the Party to power in 1949. Zheng Chaolin, a disciple of Chen Duxiu and a convert to Trotskyism, spent 34 years in jail, first under the Nationalists and then under Mao. Chen Yi, a guerrilla, wrote poems in mountain bivouacs or during battles. Despite officially proscribing the classical style of poetry, Mao and other leaders continued to use it.

Poetry, particularly classical poetry, holds a distinct role in China and the Chinese revolution compared to its Western counterpart. It is considered a collective and collaborative art form. The four poets were intertwined with each other in various ways. Chen Duxiu inspired Mao, although Mao later denounced him. Mao and Zheng joined the leadership under Chen Duxiu in the 1920s, although Mao later jailed Zheng. Chen Yi was Zheng's associate in France and Mao's comrade-in-arms in China, but he clashed with the Maoists during the Cultural Revolution.

Together, the four poets provide a captivating illustration of the complex relationship between the Communist revolution and Chinese cultural tradition. Their writings reflect the struggles, sacrifices, and complexities of the era, offering a glimpse into the minds and hearts of those who shaped China's history.

Weight: 502g
Dimension: 213 x 141 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788734684