This is arguably the best biography of Mao and Deng. The author has gone into granular details which gives wonderful perspectives on them. Besides this, this book also covered all the major players of the CCP including Kang Sheng, Mao’s spymaster.
Many friends and allies of Mao died during the Cultural revolution. If Mao had died 20 years or 10 years earlier this blot on his record would not have happened. He would be called the greatest statesman of China. (Chen Yun observed p 223)
There is a very useful personages appendix to guide us through the many players in this excellent book.