A Force So Swift

A Force So Swift: Mao, Truman, and the Birth of Modern China, 1949 by Kevin Peraino

The rise of modern China is due to many factors, not least of which was a tumult going on in the country itself, with respect to its leaders.  Warring factions, two powerful leaders, and the threat of war were all factors that led to the China we see today.  Kevin Peraino in his new book, A Force So Swift, draws on the history of China with a sharp focus on Mao and his rise, Truman and his coming to serve as President and the harrowing decisions he had to make in the face of great danger.

One of the more fascinating parts of the book for me was the focus on Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.  As the wife of Kai-Shek, she was relentless is pursuing the United States as an ally to help the people of China and her husband. Brazen, not afraid of political wrangling and pulling up a seat at the table of men.  Kevin writes, "She told Chiang that she had been busily lobbying Americans from "all walks of life" for support.  It would be foolish, she argued to quit the movement at this "critical moment" - just when Truman had shuffled his cabinet and was reevaluating his China policy." (48).  Her husband was brutal on the edges of China, fighting off Mao's rebels, and yet his wife, Madame Chiang was busy soliciting the help of the presidential cabinet amidst the quick changes by Truman.  Part of the image of Madame Chiang was set forth by the American press.  Kevin notes, "The American media reinforced the portrait of Madame Chiang as an uncompromising crusader; more than one newspaper cast her as a Joan of Arc figure." (18)

The great hardship of war was front and center with Mao's troops.  Kevin writes, "To the north, Mao's troops had been pushing for weeks toward the Yangtze, tramping through muddy paths between rice paddies and camphor trees, pushing wheelbarrows, dragging buffalo, and hoisting artillery pieces on their shoulders." (112) Mao and his army were not new to remote and rough conditions, prior to this time Mao had spent much time in the mountains using guerilla warfare.  Another interesting thing that Kevin notes in the book is Mao's penchant for poetry and his rapidly deteriorating health, and the sleep that seemed to always evade Mao. 

This was a very interesting book.  Kevin looks at Truman from the perspective as a man of duty with some terrible choices to make.  The controversy of Communists in the states left Truman to tell the people that they need to read their history books, even back in 1793.

Thanks to Blogging for Books and Crown Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.