Deng Xiaoping has generally been given the credit for the reforms of the late 1970s that put China on the path to spectacular economic growth and development, a process that has turned into one of the greatest powers of the 21st century. His 'Four Modernisations' - reform in agriculture, industry, military, science and technology - unveiled at the Third Plenum of the Central Committee in 1978 undoubtedly paved the way for China's rise to superpower status. Yet, only a decade after this, his greatest achievement, Deng fell dramatically from grace, becoming reviled both within and outside of China as the man responsible for crushing the democracy movement in the carnage of Tiananmen Square. In this book, Michael Dillon uncovers the true story of Deng Xiaoping.

Favoured son of Sichuan: growing up in Paifang (1904-20) -- À la recherche du Deng perdu: the roots of Chinese Communism in provincial France after World War I (1920-6) -- Moscow and the Chinese Revolution (1926-31) -- Soidier and Communist: triumph over adversity in Jiangxi (1931-4) -- Revolution and resistance: the Long March, Yan'an and the Taihang Mountains (1934-45) -- Civer War and the new China (1945-9) -- Liberating Sichuan and ruling from Chongqing (1949-52) -- Beijing and Zhongnanhai (1952-6) -- Campaign againist rightists and intellectuals (1956-7) -- The Great Leap Forward, confrontation at Lushan and the Sino-Soviet split (1958-61) -- Rebuilding the economy (1962-5) -- Capitalist Roader Number 2 (1966-73) -- Return from the cowshed (1973-5) -- Running China (January 1975) -- Attaining power (1976-8) -- Economic reform and opening to the world (1978-9) -- Retreating to advance: from the Gang of Four to the Democracy movement (1980-92) -- Southern tour and the Deng legacy (1992-7) -- Appendix: Key personalities in Deng Xiaoping's political career.