Zhou Enlai: The Last Perfect Revolutionary Book

The title is somewhat misleading, as this biography focuses on the last decade of Zhou's life rather than his revolutionary career pre-1949. If you are at all interested in learning more about Zhou, Mao, and the Cultural Revolution this is well worth reading, however. I teach about China post-1949 for the IB Diploma History course and this confirmed my overall impression of Zhou as one of the most decent and smartest of the old CCP cadres. There is much to admire in his deft ability to read and adapt to the changing political winds and his resilience in surviving Mao's many attacks and vendettas. He personally did much to save the lives of many during the upheavals of the Cultural Revolution, while at the same time he is also taken to task for never openly defying Mao and standing up to his ruthlessness. The Great Helmsman's refusal to allow Zhou to have treatment for his cancer while it was still treatable and the petty grudges he held against him dating back to the 1930s despite Zhou's years of loyal and devoted service say as much about Zhou as they do about Mao.