In 1850, China was the 'sick man of Asia'. Now it is set to become the most powerful nation on earth. The Penguin History of Modern China shows how turbulent that journey has been. For 150 years China has endured as victim of oppression, war and famine. This makes its current position as arguably th[...]

China's spectacular growth has led to visions of the 21st century being dominated by the last major state on earth ruled by a Communist Party, its forward march seemingly unstoppable when contrasted with the West and Japan.[...]

The first important English-language chronicle of the Chinese warlord who lost mainland China to Mao during the Communist Revolution reconstructs his fascinating rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s, his struggles for power during World War II, and his subsequent drubbing at the hands of the Communi[...]

No leader of modern times was more uniquely patriotic than Charles de Gaulle. As founder and first president of the Fifth Republic, General de Gaulle saw himself as "carrying France on his] shoulders." In his twenties, he fought for France in the trenches and at the epic battle of Verdun. In the 19[...]

This completely revised and fully updated edition of the book Bill Bryson called superb presents a sharply insightful, authoritative portrait of France today as it struggles to live up to its vision of itself amid storm clouds that won t go away.
"France on the Brink" was chosen as a "New York T[...]

A magisterial, sweeping biography of one of the great leaders of the 20th century -- General Charles De Gaulle[...]