Book suggestion for Chinese Civil War?

[vtsaogames]

Just saw Tsui Hark's 1984 flick Shanghai Blues. My dad fled that city in 37 (I think) when the Japanese invaded. I realized how little I know about the Nationalist/Communist Civil War. Anyone suggest a good read about it? Hopefully one where neither Chiang Kai-Shek or Mao Zedong are heroes.

If you can see the film, do. It's been re-mastered. The director has seen Chaplin's and Buster Keaton's films, lots of slapstick and screwball comedy. Underneath the comedy, Shanghai in 1947 is depicted with astounding inflation (200,000 yuan to the dollar. Currently about 8 ), veterans living under bridges and frequent power outages.

[EnclavedMicrostate]

There's two books I've been recommended but haven't read, but which would probably get you up to speed: Diana Lary's China's Civil War: A Social History, and Joseph Esherick's Accidental Holy Land. Esherick's book is less about the civil war and more about the Communists in Yan'an, though, so probably the former is closer to what you're looking for.

[Sakuragi Miniatures]

While not about the war itself, the Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna is a fictional account of a US Navy gunboat caught up in it and it was written by a Yangtze River Patrol sailor who was stationed there in the early 1930s. As a sailor, it showed me that we haven't changed and that the people who crewed the ships then are the same as those that do it now. It's a very ground level look at life in China at the time.

On a similar note, there is Yangtze River Patrol by Rear Adm. Kemp Tolley, who was also stationed with the patrol and later decided to write a book about it's history and life in China for a Yangtze sailor but from an officer's perspective.

[vtsaogames]

Thanks for the book suggestion, thin I'll look for the first.
Yes, Sand Pebbles is a great film. The USS Olympia in Philly has a similar engine. It was Dewey's flagship, worth a detour.
I see my note about the current ~ 8 yuan to the dollar came out weird. Will try to fix it.

Found another while looking a the Amazon page for Lary's book: Decisive Encounters: The Chinese Civil War, 1946-1950 by Odd Westad. Also sounds good, if less detailed.

[Inkpaduta]

Osprey has one that does a good job of summarizing the war.

[vtsaogames]

There's two books I've been recommended but haven't read, but which would probably get you up to speed: Diana Lary's China's Civil War: A Social History, and Joseph Esherick's Accidental Holy Land. Esherick's book is less about the civil war and more about the Communists in Yan'an, though, so probably the former is closer to what you're looking for.

Thank you! Got Lary's book on my Kindle and was quite pleased with it. Now to get off my butt and post a review. I've got several that need to be done.