For the first time, the most complete and objective publication written about Mao Zedong appeared on the Russian book market. Taking as a basis the archives of the Chinese Communist Party, the CPSU and the international communist movement, the famous sinologist, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Alexander Pantsov builds a picture of the narrative so vividly that the illusion of being completely present at the scene of the events described is created. Among the vast amount of material used in the book are Mao's multi-volume personal file and dossier, several thousand volumes of personal files of other Chinese revolutionaries, and recordings of the author's conversations with people who knew Mao. Most of these materials are published for the first time. From the pages of the book, Mao appears not only as a politician, but also as a living person, with all his advantages and disadvantages. This publication, unique in its scale and information content, will be the best among books about the “great helmsman” of the Celestial Empire.