Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang
Language: English
Published by Simon & Schuster, 2009
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Textbook Bookie, Little Rock, AR, U.S.A.Textbook Bookie
AbeBooks seller since October 5, 2026
Condition: Used - Good
£ 7.76
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Book in Good condition.
Seller Inventory # 9781439149386-good
- Title
- Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang
- Author
- Ziyang Zhao
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster
- Publication year
- 2009
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1439149380
- ISBN 13
- 9781439149386
"Zhao may be more dangerous in death than he was in life."
-- Time
How often can you peek behind the curtains of one of the most secretive governments in the world? Prisoner of the State is the first book to give readers a front row seat to the secret inner workings of China's government. It is the story of Premier Zhao Ziyang, the man who brought liberal change to that nation and who, at the height of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, tried to stop the massacre and was dethroned for his efforts.
When China's army moved in, killing hundreds of students and other demonstrators, Zhao was placed under house arrest at his home on a quiet alley in Beijing. China's most promising change agent had been disgraced, along with the policies he stood for. The premier spent the last sixteen years of his life, up until his death in 2005, in seclusion. An occasional detail about his life would slip out: reports of a golf excursion, a photo of his aging visage, a leaked letter to China's leaders. But China scholars often lamented that Zhao never had his final say.
As it turns out, Zhao did produce a memoir in complete secrecy. He methodically recorded his thoughts and recollections on what had happened behind the scenes during many of modern China's most critical moments. The tapes he produced were smuggled out of the country and form the basis for Prisoner of the State. In this audio journal, Zhao provides intimate details about the Tiananmen crackdown; he describes the ploys and double crosses China's top leaders use to gain advantage over one another; and he talks of the necessity for China to adopt democracy in order to achieve long-term stability.
The China that Zhao portrays is not some long-lost dynasty. It is today's China, where the nation's leaders accept economic freedom but continue to resist political change.
If Zhao had survived -- that is, if the hard-line hadn't prevailed during Tiananmen -- he might have been able to steer China's political system toward more openness and tolerance.
Zhao's call to begin lifting the Party's control over China's life -- to let a little freedom into the public square -- is remarkable coming from a man who had once dominated that square. Although Zhao now speaks from the grave in this moving and riveting memoir, his voice has the moral power to make China sit up and listen.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
--Erik Eckholm, The New York Times
"Until the appearance of this posthumous work, not a single voice of dissent had ever emerged from the [Chinese Communist] party's inner circle . . . Fascinating."
--The Economist
"Zhao speaks from beyond the grave . . . the up-close-and-personal tone [of the book] stands out. Scholars will mine Prisoner of the State for historical nuances."
--Perry Link, coeditor of The Tiananmen Papers
"[T]his book will be of special importance to anyone interested in what happened during the spring of 1989, culminating in the Tiananmen killings of June 3 and 4."
--Jonathan Mirsky, The New York Review of Books
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Textbook Bookie
Little Rock, AR, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since October 5, 2026
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 3.21 | £ 5.28 |
Payment methods
Store description
Your trusted source for textbooks for nearly 28 years. Since 1998, Textbook Bookie and its affiliates have provided quality new and used textbooks at affordable prices. We take pride in accurate listings, fast shipping, and friendly, dependable customer service. Orders received before 12 PM CT ship the same business day. Orders received after 12 PM may ship the same day but are not guaranteed to ship until the next business day. If you have any questions or concerns with your order, please contact us through AbeBooks. We’re always happy to help! Thank you for choosing Textbook Bookie and its affiliates!…
Specialty
TextbooksSeller's business information
Textbook Bookie
AR, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
We have a 14 day return policy. The return must be postmarked within 14 days of the delivery date. If you are unable to have the item postmarked within 14 days of the delivery date, please contact us for further information. Once the item has been returned, we will initiate an item-only refund (shipping costs are non- refundable). The item must be returned in the same condition as it was advertised. Please contact us prior to returning the item if the condition of the item received is not the same as the condition advertised. Items returned to other locations other then the one specified below will be subject to additional restocking fees. Items not postmarked within 14 days of delivery and received back in store during this time will also be subject to additional restocking fees. Please use Media Mail Shipping and obtain return tracking on all items being shipped back for return. Please do not mark the item "Return or Sender" or "Refuse." Please return the item to the address on the returns information for AbeBooks. If you have any questions regarding this return policy, please contact us prior to returning the item. Thank you for your understanding. Textbook Bookie 12123 Kanis Road Little Rock, AR 72211 501-217-4960 textbookbookie@texastext.net Customer Service Manager: Krystin
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Textbook Bookie, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.