Narrative Non-fiction2012 · 640 pp
Mao's Kingdom: A Story of Suffering
Torbjørn Færøvik
Almost 40 years have passed since the Death of Chairman Mao. We have now a better understanding of what happened under his rule. 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 Maos 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. This alone makes this book an exceptionally important.WINNER OF THE BRAGE PRIZE 2012 ‘He allows many courageous witnesses to make themselves heard without losing sight of the significant elements. All the while, Færøvik is an uncommonly skilled mediator with a great skill for narrative technique.’FÆDRELANDSVENNEN
‘Torbjørn Færøvik’s book about Mao’s China is a fundamental synopsis of what we now know of Mao’s crimes.’DAG OG TID
‘30 years of despotism, exposed in all its hideousness. A powerful book.’STAVANGER AFTENBLAD
‘Readable, popularised and well documented [book] about China’s revolutionary leader.’DAGBLADET
‘A great piece of work recounting the exciting history of the Central States’ wealth.’TRØNDER-AVISA
‘Torbjørn Færøvik offers up a well-written account of what Maos’ rule really entailed.’AFTENPOSTEN
‘This solid collection of writing charts China’s 27 years under Chairman Mao’s rule.’ VG
‘The opportunity to read Torbjørn Færøvik’s books always merits celebration… This book comes warmly recommended.’DAGEN
‘Færøvik writes with a living narrative voice and adds variety to the historical facts with accounts from those who experienced the various atrocities of living under Mao. They bring flesh and blood to the story.’ØSTLANDETS BLAD
‘Using the critical senses honed through his roles as both a journalist and historian, he presents a collected account that is thus far unparalleled in the Norwegian language. He writes tremendously well and brings forth the drama of the three decades of history without allowing reader accessibility to come at the cost of credibility.’GUDBRANDSDØLEN DAGNINGEN‘The strength of this book is seen in its solid base of research which allows the author to fulfil his ambitious project: to describe the suffering without ideological blinkers. The author is one of our leading writers of non-fiction prose and, in Maos rike, he combines his extensive knowledge with his unique talent for storytelling. The result is a vivid and at the same time critical narrative about human suffering during the rule of Mao.’THE JURY OF THE BRAGE PRIZE
‘… a must-read is Mao’s Kingdom, a deeply fascinating account by the Norwegian historian Torbjørn Færøvik ... It is simply one of the best books on this subject available in Danish ‘EKSTRA BLADET (Denmark) ‘It rarely happens that it is hard to tear oneself away from reading a historical work, but it is true of this book. The wide-eyed reader cannot but follow every turn in this grotesque and cruel game with the fate of an entire population.’ POLITIKEN (Denmark) ‘Færøvik is a good communicator, elegantly fusing the evidence from a variety of sources into a coherent and comprehensible whole … It provides a nearly complete overview of the hundreds of books written about Mao and China, and of more recent research into the life and activities of the Chinese demon … A valuable, well-written and entertaining book which allows the reader a properly documented insight into the Mao era in China.’JYLLANDS-POSTEN (Denmark) ‘Færøvik, an experienced foreign correspondent, who last year was awarded the highly prestigious Brage Prize for this work, has a well-researched basis for his overview of the history of the victims; the people who were butchered on the altar of progress and then vanished below ground in forgotten mass graves.’WEEKENDAVISEN (Denmark)
