Zhang Guotao

Name: Zhang Guotao
ISBN: 9787509864401

Zhang ShujunCPC Party History Publishing House · ChinaMar 2026

3.9

Word count: 361K words
Chapters: 60
ISBN: 9787509864401

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Summary

Drawing on a wealth of archival material, the author uses delicate, sincere feeling and clear, flowing prose to tear through the fog of history, sketching for readers Zhang Guotao's dramatic political career—from rise and glory to setback and downfall—restoring historical truth and unveiling the little-known ups and downs of a life that went from boundless prominence to dying in a foreign land.

Writing with an impartial pen, concealing neither merits nor faults, this book uses detailed sources, an objective stance, and vivid prose to faithfully再现 Zhang Guotao's turbulent and tragic life.

Editor's review

Drawing on a wealth of archival materials, this book traces Zhang Guotao's dramatic political career—his rise, brilliance, setbacks, and downfall—in fluent and nuanced prose, seeking to recreate the ups and downs of a life that went from boundless glory to a lonely death in exile. Writing with candor, the author neither conceals his merits nor glosses over his faults, presenting the tragic trajectory of a complex historical figure through solid evidence and an objective stance. The book's value lies not in simple praise or blame but in illuminating, through one individual's fate, the choices and costs of the early revolutionary years, helping readers understand the proper measure and basis for historical judgment. The narrative is lucid and readable, balancing archival support with character portrayal. It serves as a useful reference for observing negative cases in the study of Party history, and is also suited to readers interested in how to evaluate complex historical figures, who will find in it the tension between evidence and standpoint.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Learners seeking to deepen their understanding of the Party's complex history through an individual case
Readers interested in methods of evaluating historical figures and the use of historical sources
Readers of biographies who prefer archival support and fluent narrative
Party history educators and researchers needing material on negative cases

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting simple, black-and-white judgments
General readers looking only for inspirational biography
Readers with no interest in the ups and downs of political figures

Reading tips

While reading, note how the author uses archival materials to support judgments, and distinguish historical fact from evaluation.
Read alongside a chronology of the CPC's early history to clarify the turning points in the subject's political career.
After reading, try to map out the key choices that led from prominence to decline, and form your own analytical framework.
Read in comparison with biographies of positive figures to appreciate the measure and basis of historical evaluation.

About the publisher

CPC Party History Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

CPC Party History Publishing House is a central-level professional social sciences publisher centered on works on Party history, historical materials, and biographies. Its current catalog contains 68 titles, commonly classified under politics, social sciences, and comprehensive biography. Representative books include 600 Questions for a Knowledge Contest Marking the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, the 2016 edition of the New Training Textbook for Probationary Party Members, the 2017 edition of the Party Membership Training Textbook, A Reader for Studying the Party Constitution, Uphold the Moral High Line and Hold the Disciplinary Bottom Line, A Practical Handbook for Party Branch Secretaries, and Strengthen the “Four Consciousnesses” and Align with the Core. These titles mainly serve Party member education, admission training, and grassroots Party affairs. Representative authors include Dongfang Zhi, Li Junwei, Xu Yunpeng, Zhao Xiaogang, Zhang Rongchen, and editorial committees, reflecting author resources grounded in editorial teams and Party affairs researchers.

版权信息
出版说明
总序
第一章故乡时光
家世
乱世求学
中学时代
第二章燕京问道
北大学子
在五四运动中
学业与学运之间
第三章建党前后
为建党而奔走
中共一大主持人
在中央局
从二大到三大
第四章在大革命风暴中
被捕入狱
重返中共中央
在国共合作的漩涡中
北伐时期
第五章危急关头
从“四一二”到“七一五”
南昌起义
上海的地下生活
第六章莫斯科岁月
出席中共六大
在中共代表团工作
中大风波
回国前后
第七章在鄂豫皖根据地
初到鄂豫皖
南下之争
推行“左”倾政策
土地革命中“左”的政策
第四次反“围剿”失败
第八章从鄂豫皖到川陕
西征途中
反三路围攻到反六路围攻
撤离川陕
第九章长征路上（上）
会师与分歧
南下与北上之争
分裂
第十章长征路上（下）
另立“中央”
南下碰壁
西进康北
北上
第十一章走向深渊
初到陕甘
延安会议前后
逃离陕北
第十二章悲凉的后半生
反共生涯
浪迹余生
主要参考书目
后记
再版后记
第三版后记

FAQ

Does this book wholly condemn Zhang Guotao or narrate him objectively?

According to the publisher's information, the book writes with candor, neither concealing his merits nor glossing over his faults, and recreates the ups and downs of his political career with solid evidence and an objective stance. Readers should treat it as an archival study of a figure rather than a simple verdict, and judge the specifics for themselves based on the materials in the book.

Can readers without a background in Party history understand it?

Yes, but it is advisable to first grasp the basic outlines of the CPC's early history; otherwise the background to the turning points in the subject's political career may be hard to fully appreciate. The narrative is lucid and fluent, and the personal thread is clear, so readers with basic historical knowledge can follow the main line.

Are the archival materials in the book reliable?

The book draws on a wealth of archival materials, and the author seeks to restore historical truth. For specific sources and annotations, refer to the published book; while reading, pay attention to the notes on sources and compare them with other authoritative works on Party history to form a more reliable judgment.

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About the author

Zhang Shujun Author · China · 1957

Zhang Shujun, born in October 1957 in Laiwu, Shandong, is a former member of the Council and a research fellow at the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, and a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He has long engaged in research on the history of the Communist Party of China and participated in compiling basic Party history works such as The History of the Communist Party of China and A Brief History of the Communist Party of China. He is the author of The Great Turning Point: A Record of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, Zhang Guotao, and The History of the Red Army's Long March, and has received the National Book Award and the Five-One Project Award. The collection includes 18 of his works, mainly biographies of figures such as Zhang Guotao, Wang Ruofei, Deng Zhongxia, He Shuheng, Mao Zemin, Liu Hulan, Zhao Shiyan, and Deng Enming, as well as documentary literature. Drawing on important Party figures and events, these works emphasize factual accuracy and plain narrative, combining scholarship with readability and helping readers understand the revolutionary course and Party history figures.