New chronicle on 'Chairman' Mao released

A chronicle offering a rare glimpse into the life and career of 'Chairman' Mao Zedong, one of the founders of modern China, was released today ahead of the late Chinese leader's 120th birthday this week.
The six-volume, three-million-word chronicle describes Mao's life and achievements after the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, according to the Central Party Literature Press, the chronicle's publisher.
Mao's 120th birthday will be marked on December 26.
The chronicle offers a rare glimpse at speeches and talks that have not been included in Mao's works, the publisher said.
Mao was born in 1893 in Shaoshan Village in central China's Hunan Province. He died in 1976 at age 83. As one of the PRC's founders, Mao is one of the most influential figures in China's modern history.

The chronicle is significant for conducting research on Mao's thoughts, theories, work and practice, as well as studying the accomplishments, experience and arduous exploration of China's socialist revolution and construction led by the Communist Party of China, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the publisher as saying.

The publisher added that the chronicle is important for research on the origin and foundation of socialist theories with Chinese characteristics.
A revised version of the three-volume chronicle of Mao's life from 1893 to 1949, first published in December 1993, was also released today.
After victory over the Nationalists in 1949, Mao proclaimed the PRC and became its first leader.

Once in power, however, many of the policies he oversaw proved disastrous.
The so-called "Great Leap Forward" of collectivised farming and rapid industrialisation led to nationwide famine which killed between 10 million and 35 million people.
The decade-long 'Cultural Revolution' from 1966, which he launched to purge political opponents, dragged on for 10 years and ruined the lives and educations of a whole generation, making Mao a controversial figure in China.