Bao Huiseng

方城CPC Party History Publishing House · ChinaMar 2026

Rating 3.6
Word count
126K words
Chapters
44
ISBN
9787509864555

Tags

General Biography Historical ReappraisalPortrait GalleryFate and FortuneDocumentary NarrativeSelf-ReflectionSocial Observation

Summary

In plain and measured prose, this book traces in detail the ups and downs of Bao Huiseng's life, offering a true portrait of a man who strove against every obstacle to pursue his education, who never laid down his pen and threw himself into revolution, who lost his way and grew disillusioned with the cause, and who, having found his way back, set out to add his own brick and tile to the historical record of the revolution... The book's discussion is objective throughout, and the figure it presents is vividly alive; it is a valuable source for deeper understanding of this highly controversial figure in Party history.

Editor's review

In plain prose, this book sketches the arc of Bao Huiseng's turbulent life. It neither inflates nor dismisses him, but sets side by side his diligence as a student, his fervor as a revolutionary, his despondency after setbacks, and his turn in later years, restoring a flesh-and-blood Party-history figure full of contradictions. The author, Fang Cheng, is meticulous in sifting the sources and writes with restraint, neither avoiding nor hastily settling points of controversy, so that readers can see the complex entanglement between an individual's fate and the tide of the age. For those who want to understand the details of the early history of the CPC, and especially those curious about Bao Huiseng, a figure often overlooked or reduced to a stereotype, this book offers a rare entry point. The writing is unadorned, suited to quiet and unhurried reading, and also serves as a reference for the writing of biography. If you are used to black-and-white heroic narratives, this book may cause some discomfort, but that very discomfort is what makes it most worth reading.

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Reading tips

  1. Read the table of contents first to grasp the division of life stages, then read chronologically to understand the logic of the subject's transformations.
  2. When encountering controversial evaluations, suspend judgment and compare them with the materials and notes at the end of the book.
  3. Read alongside a general history of the CPC's early years to understand the individual's fate in its historical context.
  4. After finishing, compile a timeline of the subject's shifts in mindset to help digest the book.

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.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 第一章 早年
  3. 玉带河畔
  4. 初到黄州
  5. 两进江城
  6. 第二章 求索
  7. 从大关帝庙到龙王庙
  8. 两次不寻常的采访
  9. 利群书社印象
  10. 蛇山脚下星星火
  11. 第三章 结党
  12. 沪穗之行
  13. 受陈独秀派遣参加一大会议
  14. 五天牢狱之灾
  15. 第四章 初试
  16. 旗开得胜
  17. 意外的收获
  18. 得意楼聚会
  19. 江岸春早
  20. 紫禁城下
  21. 雁南飞
  22. 第五章 巅峰
  23. 不和谐的合作
  24. 临乱受命到黄埔
  25. 第二次东征
  26. 中山舰事件前后（上）
  27. 中山舰事件前后（下）
  28. 第六章 转折
  29. 意乱心悬
  30. 再返江城
  31. 在母校旧址
  32. 夏斗寅师党代表
  33. 嘉鱼历险
  34. 从悲观到消沉
  35. 第七章 歧路
  36. 混迹军界
  37. 文官任上
  38. 第八章 复归
  39. 南天引领
  40. 华北革大的老学生
  41. 栖梧老人
  42. 尾声 定论
  43. 主要参考书目
  44. 后记

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers without a background in Party history? It is readable, but requires some patience. The book involves many early CPC organizational activities and names, so readers with no background at all may struggle at first. It is advisable to first learn the general outline of the period around the Party's founding, or look up names as you read; the experience will then be much smoother.
Does the book take a clear stance on the controversies surrounding Bao Huiseng? Judging from the introduction, the book's discussion is objective, presenting his many sides—study, revolution, disillusionment, and return from a wrong path—without simple praise or blame. Readers should treat it as material for understanding a complex figure rather than a definitive verdict, and think through the specifics for themselves in light of the historical sources.
What is the narrative style of this book? It is mainly plain in tone, focusing on the subject's experiences and shifts in mindset, with vivid characterization. It does not seek dramatic effect, and is suited to readers who prefer calm, objective biographical writing.

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About the author

方城 Author

Public information about Fang Cheng is limited. The library currently holds only one work by this author, the biography Bao Huiseng. This work suggests that Fang Cheng takes an interest in the lives and experiences of modern Chinese historical figures and focuses on biographical writing. Bao Huiseng was an early member of the Communist Party of China, and his life encompassed the Party's formative activities as well as later political changes, offering a biographer rich narrative material. In writing on this subject, Fang Cheng would need to sort out the historical background, social relationships, and personal choices of the figure in order to present a relatively complete portrait. Because only this one work is available, it is difficult to judge Fang Cheng's overall style in the use of historical sources or narrative structure, nor is it possible to know the author's background or other writings. Readers interested in Fang Cheng and this work may learn more through the specific content of Bao Huiseng, while further information awaits additional public sources.