The Red Emperor cover art

The Red Emperor

'the most vivid and compelling biography of Xi published to date' Financial Times

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The Red Emperor

By: Michael Sheridan
Narrated by: Daniel York Loh
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About this listen

 'Michael Sheridan is one of the best informed and wisest writers on China' - Chris Patten, last governor of Hong Kong

The Red Emperor presents an eye-opening portrait of Xi Jinping, the man who presides over 1.4 billion people and the second largest economy on earth. Born a 'princeling' to one of Communist China's ruling families, the young Xi was exiled to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. He fought his way back to the top by stealth, privilege and guile. In 2012, following the spectacular fall of his rival Bo Xilai, Xi Jinping became the leader of China.

In a compulsively readable narrative, veteran foreign correspondent Michael Sheridan takes the reader from the poor, isolated country of Xi's youth to the military and economic superpower of today. In Xi's new China, family mafias struggle for power amid murder, corruption and sex scandals as ministers and generals vanish in purges. No one is safe in his techno-security state. Xi is an absolute ruler whose word is law on everything from war and peace to the ruthless campaign against Covid-19. He aims to dominate world trade, to defeat Western democracy and to make China the supreme power in the East. A loner and a risk-taker, he is the most consequential leader of our time.

Drawing on intimate stories from the closed world of China's leading families and two decades of first-hand reporting, Michael Sheridan sheds new light on the history and politics of China. The book reveals that behind the façade of the Chinese Communist Party there is a modern dynasty and a new emperor.©2024 Michael Sheridan Asia China Economic History Economics Politicians Politics & Activism Presidents & Heads of State War Military

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Critic reviews

Deeply researched . . . incisive . . . The early part of The Red Emperor by Michael Sheridan has even a reader unschooled in psychoanalysis wondering about the sort of life-long imprint that trauma can inflict . . . the most vivid and compelling biography of Xi published to date. (James Kynge)
Michael Sheridan is one of the best informed and wisest writers on China. This book on Xi Jinping should be widely read by all who are interested in the life and times of the man who is likely to be the last Emperor of China. (Chris Patten, last Governor of Hong Kong)
Extraordinary . . . compelling
. . . accessible and very readable, especially given the complexities of the material at hand. Historical fact is easily explained and interwoven with anecdotes from different corners which make for a really gripping read. If you've ever wanted to learn more about the man behind today's China, then this is the perfect gateway.
Immensely readable, it deftly navigates the complexities of the subject matter, effortlessly and plainly explaining historical fact and bringing it to life with gripping anecdote.
This is a fast-paced and well-written biography. Sheridan identifies the key events and people, and then works them together into a dramatic narrative.
Boisterous, no-holds-barred . . . the fact Sheridan is not beholden to maintaining access to China, like some other recent authors of books on Xi, makes this a fairly comprehensive account for the general reader.
a racily readable account of Xi that moves fluidly between the attested public record and more contested allegations. It progresses clearly and helpfully through Xi's backstory, career, likely influences and espoused ideas. (Julia Lovell)
the best and most complete Xi bio to date (Paul French, author of Midnight in Peking)
All stars
Most relevant
Most surprised to find the man in charge so I really can’t think of the word.

A big shock.

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The narrator has brought to life what could be quite a dry book! Daniel York’s Asian heritage and command of Mandarin pronunciation gives weight to Michael Sheridan’s narrative flair!

Superb Performance

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The latter stage seemed to be more of a hatchet job, and that made you think about the earlier parts.

I listened to learn the history of Xi, not to read a Western perspective on China. Now I'm not so sure I trust this in either respect.

The early days related quite a tale

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This seems to be a very well researched book and is engaging throughout. I would recommend.

Fascinating insights

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well done the author for having such a detailed view on things but I really got lost in all the detail and couldn't see the main point of the book I skipped to the end which was about covid, but even that was too detailed for me maybe there's some good information stuck in there somewhere if you've got the Patience to find it.

was looking for info on the president's life and what he wants to do with China where he wants to take it what he's relationships are with the west etc etc

very detailed book but it lost me

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