About the book
The story of the friends and allies of the Chinese Revolution
China’s resistance to Imperial Japan was the other great internationalist cause of the ‘red 1930s’, along with the Spanish Civil War. These desperate and bloody struggles were personified in the lives of Norman Bethune and others who volunteered in both conflicts. The story of Red Friends starts in the 1920s when, encouraged by the newly formed Communist International, Chinese nationalists and leftists united to fight warlords and foreign domination.
John Sexton has unearthearthed the histories of foreigners who joined the Chinese revolution. He follows Comintern militants, journalists, spies, adventurers, Trotskyists, and mission kids whose involvement helped, and sometimes hindered, China’s revolutionaries. Most were internationalists who, while strongly identifying with China’s struggle, saw it as just one theatre in a world revolution.
The present rulers in Beijing, however, buoyed by China’s powerhouse economy, commemorate them as ‘foreign friends’ who aided China’s ‘peaceful rise’ to great power status.
Founded on original research, it is a stirring story of idealists struggling against the odds to found a better future. The author’s interviews with survivors and descendants add colour and humanity to lives both heroic and tragic.
Editions of Red Friends
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781788735667
- EBook
- ISBN 9781788735698
Read an Excerpt
The story of the friends and allies of the Chinese Revolution
China’s resistance to Imperial Japan was the other great internationalist cause of the ‘red 1930s’, along with the Spanish Civil War. These desperate and bloody struggles were personified in the lives of Norman Bethune and others who volunteered in both conflicts. The story of Red Friends starts in the 1920s when, encouraged by the newly formed Communist International, Chinese nationalists and leftists united to fight warlords and foreign domination.
John Sexton has unearthearthed the histories of foreigners who joined the Chinese revolution. He follows Comintern militants, journalists, spies, adventurers, Trotskyists, and mission kids whose involvement helped, and sometimes hindered, China’s revolutionaries. Most were internationalists who, while strongly identifying with China’s struggle, saw it as just one theatre in a world revolution.
The present rulers in Beijing, however, buoyed by China’s powerhouse economy, commemorate them as ‘foreign friends’ who aided China’s ‘peaceful rise’ to great power status.
Founded on original research, it is a stirring story of idealists struggling against the odds to found a better future. The author’s interviews with survivors and descendants add colour and humanity to lives both heroic and tragic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Red Friends about?
The story of the friends and allies of the Chinese Revolution
China’s resistance to Imperial Japan was the other great internationalist cause of the ‘red 1930s’, along with the Spanish Civil War. These desperate and bloody struggles were personified in the lives of Norman Bethune and others who volunteered in both conflicts. The story of Red Friends starts in the 1920s when, encouraged by the newly formed Communist International, Chinese nationalists and leftists united to fight warlords and foreign domination.
John Sexton has unearthearthed the histories of foreigners who joined the Chinese revolution. He follows Comintern militants, journalists, spies, adventurers, Trotskyists, and mission kids whose involvement helped, and sometimes hindered, China’s revolutionaries. Most were internationalists who, while strongly identifying with China’s struggle, saw it as just one theatre in a world revolution.
The present rulers in Beijing, however, buoyed by China’s powerhouse economy, commemorate them as ‘foreign friends’ who aided China’s ‘peaceful rise’ to great power status.
Founded on original research, it is a stirring story of idealists struggling against the odds to found a better future. The author’s interviews with survivors and descendants add colour and humanity to lives both heroic and tragic.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Red Friends?
History and Archaeology > History > Asian history
Where can I read a sample of Red Friends?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781788735667
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Red Friends?
John Sexton
Who is the Publisher of the book Red Friends?
Verso Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Red Friends is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781788735667) and ebook(ISBN 9781788735698)
Where can I buy Red Friends online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Red Friends from below
Where can I buy Red Friends?