First printed in 1979, this series of illuminating letters was written between April and August, 1949, describing Nanking before, during and immediately after the Communist takeover. The author was in China on a research fellowship at the time of the takeover. The result is a fresh and lively close-up of this crucial phase in the Chinese Revolution. This collection is of considerable value because it contains an eye-witness account of the Chinese revolution. Such original sources are rare and especially useful for teaching purposes.