墓碑：中国六十年代饥荒纪实 Tombstone: The Great Chinese Famine, 1958-1962 by Yang Jisheng

Heart wrenching classic with mountains of evidence

Let me admit first that I read the Chinese version a few years ago, and wrote this review.  I assume the translation has high fidelity.

Warning: this book is not good for recreational reading, not suitable for the faint of heart.  It has large amount of data and stories of the widespread cannibalism.

The severity of the famine is so unthinkable that some people still do not believe it.  The estimated death tolls vary widely as the book point out.  In light of this, it is quite understandable that the author studies this subject for a decade and presents mountains of evidence to put any doubt of reasonable people to rest.  

It based on extensive solid literature research and first-hand interviews of witnesses.  The author visited many places in China. The book is full of events with specific times, locations, people’s names and various numbers.

Though I read a lot about this man-made famine before reading this book, but the scenes described by the book are still heart wrenching. The estimates of the famine’s death toll vary considerably. I believe the book’s number – 36 Million – is the best one. As a widely respected veteran journalist and researcher, Yang offers much more than just compilation of facts. The book gives in depth analysis of the background and consequences of this famine. It shows how Mao, the de facto emperor of China during his reign, was responsible for the biggest disaster in human history besides wars.  Mao started the Great Leap Forward movement that resulted in the famine, but far more importantly, he let the famine continue, and purged the people who dared to challenge his policy causing this famine. 

The book also tells how various key players such as Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Peng Dehuai conducted themselves during this period.

This book is another reminder of what kind of devastating disaster that dictatorship can produce.  Mao, who is responsible for tens of millions of deaths, is still revered by the Chinese Communist Party, and his cadaver is still occupying a precious spot in Tiananmen Square at the Center of Beijing.