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Deng: A Political Biography
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Plot Summary of Deng: A Political Biography
"    Deng Xiaoping was a cunning politician who came to power through his ability to accurately appraise Mao Zedong's state of mind. Deng was becoming disillusioned with Mao's policies, and when he became China's absolute ruler in 1978, he embraced post-Mao reforms. Unfortunately, Deng lacked the kind of hands-on control that was necessary to follow through on his economic modernization program.
    Deng possessed a reformist drive, but he was also a ruthless dictator who launched a massive purge that sent almost one million people to labor camps, and execution, on the grounds that they were "rightist sympathizers". Deng was drawn to power, but he did not have any real political convictions other than holding on to power. "

Nathaniel Ford, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Deng: A Political Biography
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Political/social rights fight Yes
Plotlet: - communists!!!! - suffering under communism
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Age: - long lived adults
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - Chinese
Nationality - Chinese
How sensitive is this person? - hard edged
Intelligence - Smarter than most other people
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 ()
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - China
Century: - 1960's-1970's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Commentary on society? Yes
Commentary on - capitalism
Writer's slant towards subject: - neutral
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Pictures/Illustrations? - A lot 11-15 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story? - 0-25% of book
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