Het privé-leven van Mao

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From 1954 until Mao Zedong's death in 1976, Dr. Li Zhisui served as Mao's personal physician, granting him nearly daily access to the Chinese leader and his inner circle. During much of this time, Mao enjoyed good health, allowing for discussions on political and personal matters, which Dr. Li meticulously recorded in his diaries. This account offers a transformative perspective on Mao and his regime, addressing long-standing questions about his sentiments toward the USA and USSR. Dr. Li details Mao's intentional rudeness to Khrushchev during the Soviet leader's secret 1958 visit and the invitation extended to the American table tennis team, a pivotal moment leading to Nixon's historic visit. The narrative explores Mao's motivations behind the Great Leap Forward, which triggered a catastrophic famine, and his reckless decision to shell the Taiwanese islands of Quemoy and Matsu, risking war with the USA. Dr. Li provides insights into other leaders like Zhou Enlai, Mao's complex relationship with his wife, and the sexual dynamics within his court. The account also covers Mao's peculiar death and the aftermath, revealing his remarkable ability for intimacy alongside a stark indifference to the suffering of millions, including former comrades. Readers will discover intimate details of Mao's personal life, including his sleeping arrangements and drug dependencies.