Republican China: Nationalism, War, and the Rise of Communism 1911-1949 (China Reader, Vol 2)

This book is a series of articles from prominent men like Mao Tse-tung and Chiang Kai-shek about the history of China over the years 1911 to 1949. It presents differing viewpoints about the rise of Communism and the involvement of the U.S.S.R and other foreign nations in China during those years. There is a wide selection of authors which gives a sample for those wishing to read more indepth articles and books. The editors do a great job of linking together the various articles and giving brief introductions to and explanations of them. Be warned however that some of the articles are quite biased toward one side or the other. The editors have tried to balance it out so as to present what could be considered the middle ground. The history is interesting, especially as it is coming straight from the horses mouth and you feel as if you are actually living during those years. Although there are more recent books on this subject, "Republican China" is still a great introduction.