Hi Denis, I was unaware of the book although I am aware of the famine.
That's an enormous figure, I can't even envisage such a tragedy.
The common Chinese answer when faced with Mao is "how do you build a country?"
If you look at the Irish famine of 1845 to 1852 then you'd see a country in the 100 years after it very little changed, Ireland only really altered with the E.U money, China's had wars since the famine (2 off the top of my head) plus the cutural revolution.
The trial of the gang of four (1981?) drew a line under the Maoist doctrines.
Mao will always be revered by the Chinese peasant classes because he freed them from the land lords and feudalism.
Mao, certainly in the west, is a divisive figure, even I can't quite make my mind up about his tenure, but as for his legacy.....
What's your opinion?