Victorious in Defeat

The Life and Times of Chiang Kai-shek, China, 1887-1975

By: Alexander V. Pantsov, Steven I. Levine - translator

Narrated by: Rick Adamson

An extensively researched, comprehensive biography of Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, one of the twentieth century's most powerful and controversial figures

Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) led the Republic of China for almost fifty years, starting in 1926. He was the architect of a new republican China, a hero of the Second World War, and a faithful ally of the United States. Simultaneously a Christian and a Confucian, Chiang dreamed of universal equality yet was a perfidious and cunning dictator responsible for the deaths of over 1.5 million innocent people.

This critical biography is based on Chiang Kai-shek's unpublished diaries, his extensive personal files from the Russian archives, and the Russian files of his relatives, associates, and foes. Alexander V. Pantsov sheds new light on the role played by the Russians in Chiang's rise to power in the 1920s and throughout his political career—and indeed the Russian influence on the Chinese revolutionary movement as a whole—as well as on Chiang's complex relationship with top officials of the United States. It is a detailed portrait of a man who ranks with Stalin, Roosevelt, Hitler, Churchill, and Gandhi as leaders who shaped our world.

©2023 Alexander V. Pantsov (P)2023 Tantor

One of the most level headed evaluations of Chiang

It is very difficult to find a semi-objective view of this complicated man, but this book does a pretty good job. Sometimes it can be VERY hard to keep track of names, dates, events, etc. but this is a great overview of such an influential leader who isn’t discussed much over here in the west.

This is not a serious history book.

The taking on face value of the rumors about the affair between Madam Chiang and Wendell Willkie, notwithstanding their obvious fallacy that was apparent using just common sense, totally defeats the credibility of the entire book. There are also other obvious errors with facts. I gave up the reading middle way in disgust.

The Background of the Big Guy 4.6 Stars

The Background of the Big Guy 4.6 Stars

I lived for years in Taiwan and also on mainland China near Chiang's hometown of Xikou, so all this history was quite meaningful to me. I am not sure if I would have found it as interesting otherwise as it often gets bogged down in historical minutiae.

Rick Adamson does a fairly good job but the narration would have been even better if a native Chinese speaker had done it.

A hard story to tell

This is impressive and captivating work. I highly recommend the book. Yet, the story of Chiang’s life is entangled with so many complex historical developments that it is hard to tell. While I experienced gaining great insight while listening, the book left me with many unanswered questions. This is many ways positive. Yet, the book could have gone more into some of the basic circumstances behind the events. I especially missed some explanations of the policies of the Qing dynasty, Western colonial powers, local militarists, provincial KMT leaders, the CCP, and the Japanese in China. With only very limited explanations, it at times became hard to understand who was fighting who and for what reasons. It also was somewhat unclear why Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang were so dedicated to uniting China and freeing it from foreign oppression. If you are interested in this book, you probably already know some of this history. You will need some prior knowledge in order for many of the events described to make sense. However, even without much prior knowledge, the description of Chiang as a person is very engaging. His cruelty is immense and terrifying. Yet, it is hard not see things from his perspective when you get to know both about his childhood and his personal reflections as revealed through his thorough personal diary that he kept through most of his adult life. A difficult yet very intense book.

Great book

Well written, well read book with limited editorializing. The reader is very good and easy to listen to. I would definitely recommend.