Torbjørn Færøvik

Mao’s Kingdom. A Story of Suffering

Almost 40 years have passed since the death of Chairman Mao. We have now a better understanding of what happened under his rule. Brave Chinese citizens have stepped forward with their stories and researchers have had access to archives which were closed for a long time. Frightening facts have emerged; millions starved to death and the famine reached its height during Mao's so-called “Great Leap Forward” (1958-61). Recent research indicates that his terrifying attempt at mass mobilisation led to some 45 million deaths. A few years later, Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution, which lasted for a decade. Once more, a horribly large number of people were sacrificed on the altar of the revolution.

In Mao’s Kingdom: A Story of Suffering the much praised writer Torbjørn Færøvik tells the story of events during Mao's rule. He bases his well-documented account on recent research and individuals' accounts. In this masterly, deeply committed work, Færøvik discusses the consequences of the brutal political dictates, and also explains what made them possible.