Mao: The Unknown Story

8 First marriage: Mao Clan Chronicle; Li Xiangwen, p. 66; Snow 1973, p. 147; Cheng 1973, p. 68. “In families in the West”: “The Question of Miss Zhao’s Personality,” 18 Nov. 1919, Mao 1990, pp. 416–17 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 423).

9 In modern school: Snow 1973, pp. 136–7; Zhao Zhichao, pp. 282–4. “exceedingly excited”: Snow 1973, p. 139.

1 °Claims early concern for peasants: ibid., pp. 135–6, 139.

11 –9 No trace of Millstone Maker: interview with local Party historians, 21 Oct. 1994. Yang Chang-chi, 5 Apr. 1915: Mao 1990, p. 636 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 60). “bowled over” by Tseng Kuo-fan: letter to Li Jinxi, 23 Aug. 1917, Mao 1990, p. 85 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 131). “sea of bitterness”: “The Great Union of the Popular Masses,” 21 July 1919, Mao 1990, pp. 373–5 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 382). 71 items: “Statutes of the Problem Study Society,” 1 Sept. 1919, Mao 1990, p. 397 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 409). “workers and peasants”: “Clearing up the Doubt,” 27 Sept. 1920, Mao 1990, p. 519 (E: MRTP vol. 1, pp. 558–9). “proletariat”: “Letter to Xiao Xudong [Siao-yu], Cai Linbin [Cai He-sen] and the Other Members in France,” 1 Dec. 1920, XXZ, pp. 149–50 (E: MRTP vol. 2, p. 10). Friend’s diary: Xie Juezai, pp. 49–50.

CHAPTER 2 Becoming a Communist

1 Russell: Russell to The Nation, 28 Oct. 1920, in id. 1968, p. 139; cf. ibid.: pp. 126–7; our visit to Changsha. Newspaper addiction: Snow 1973, p. 139. First political essay: ibid., p. 140. “be prepared for war”: Mao 1990, p. 647.

2 Dazzling range of choices: Snow 1973, p. 143. like a buffalo: Siao 1953, p. 36. Teacher-training college: visit to the college, Changsha, and conversations with locals, Oct. 1994. Real “Hundred Flowers”: INT.

3 Swimming poem: Mao 1920–27, p. 303 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 159). Summer 1917 round countryside: Siao 1953.

4 Mao extreme remarks: Zhang Kundi diary, 23 Sept. 1917, in Mao 1990, p. 639 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 139).

5 –14 Notes on Paulsen: “Marginal Notes to Friedrich Paulsen, A System of Ethics,” 1917–18, Mao 1990, pp. 116–275 (E: MRTP vol. 1, pp. 175–313). “all there only for me”: ibid. pp. 147–8 (p. 205). “no duty to other people”: ibid.*p. 235 (p. 277). “responsible to no one”: ibid.*pp. 204–5 (pp. 252–3). “not my own reality”: ibid. p. 205 (p. 252). “not … for future generations”: ibid. p. 206 (p. 253). Conscience “for better completion of impulse”: ibid. pp. 210–11 (pp. 255–7). Don’t kill “out of self-interest”: ibid.p. 120 (p. 179). “purely calculation for oneself”: ibid. p. 219 (p. 263). “Great Heroes”: ibid. pp. 218–19 (pp. 263–4). “Long-lasting peace … unendurable”: ibid. pp. 184–6 (pp. 237–8). Death “fantastic”: ibid. pp. 197–8 (p. 247). “How do we change” China: ibid. pp. 201–2 (p. 250).

6 Yang Chang-chi wrote: “Journal,” 5 Apr. 1915, in Mao 1990, p. 636 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 60). Another teacher: Xu Teli, in Band & Band, p. 250. Not elected leader: New People’s Study Society Report, no. 1, winter 1920, in XXZ, p. 4.

7 –16 “my mind is filled”: Letter to Tao Yi [Tao Siyong], Mao 1990, p. 467 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 494). Cannot learn Russian: Leonid Polevoy (son of Sergei) telephone interview, 24 May 1998, and letter to authors; S. Polevoy role: VKP vol.1, pp. 28, 48, 744. Life in Peking: New People’s Study Society Report, no. 1, winter 1920, in XXZ, p. 6; Snow 1973, pp. 151ff; Luo Zhanglong, pp. 8–9. “did not treat me like a human”: Snow 1973, p. 151.

8 Unkempt: INT; Cadart & Cheng, p. 159.

9 “we must now doubt”: “Manifesto on the Founding of the Xiang River Review,” 14 July 1919, Mao 1990, p. 292 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 318). Mao and mother: “Letter to Seventh and Eighth Maternal Uncles,” Aug. 1918, Mao 1990, p. 288 (E: MRTP vol. 1, p. 174). “When my mother was dying”: Wu Xujun, in Remembering Mao Zedong vol. 2, p. 663.