Forgotten Ally: China's World War II, 1937-1945 Paperback – September 2, 2014 by Rana Mitter

An Economist Book of the Year

A Financial Times Book of the Year

“A book that has long cried out to be written.” — Observer (UK), Books of the Year

In 1937, two years before Hitler invaded Poland, Chinese troops clashed with Japanese occupiers in the first battle of World War II. Joining with the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain, China became the fourth great ally in a devastating struggle for its very survival.

Prizewinning historian Rana Mitter unfurls China’s drama of invasion, resistance, slaughter, and political intrigue as never before. Based on groundbreaking research, this gripping narrative focuses on a handful of unforgettable characters, including Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Zedong, and Chiang’s American chief of staff, “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell. Mitter also recounts the sacrifice and resilience of everyday Chinese people through the horrors of bombings, famines, and the infamous Rape of Nanking.

More than any other twentieth-century event, World War II was crucial in shaping China’s worldview, making Forgotten Ally both a definitive work of history and an indispensable guide to today’s China and its relationship with the West.

“In the manner of David McCullough, [Mitter] creates a complex history that is urgently alive.” — Kirkus Reviews

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0544334507

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books

Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 2, 2014

Edition ‏ : ‎ Paperback Reprint

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Print length ‏ : ‎ 480 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780544334502

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0544334502

Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.2 x 8 inches