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Tiananmen Diary: Thirteen Days in June
1989 1st edition. Brand new. Mint/unread condition! Only listing as used-like new to comply with amazon condition policy. Remainder mark on bottom edges. Softcover has some minor surface marks and creased corner. Otherwise, mint clean copy!
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1989
8 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Harrison E. Salisbury
112 books44 followersHarrison E. Salisbury (November 14, 1908 - July 5, 1993) was a long time reporter and editor at The New York Times.
Earlier in his career he had worked for the United Press, which he joined after earning a B.A. at the University of Minnesota in 1930. He began his career in journalism as a part-time reporter for the Minneapolis Journal during 1928-29.
Although he served in many different positions and places during his long career at the Times, Mr. Salisbury is perhaps most famous for his work as Moscow correspondent, covering the U.S.S.R. during the early years of the Cold War. After serving as the Times' Moscow Bureau Chief from 1949 to 1954, he returned to the U.S. and wrote a series of articles for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1955.
He spent a great deal of time concentrating on Asia during his later years at the Times, covering the Vietnam War as well as many different issues and events having to do with China.
Earlier in his career he had worked for the United Press, which he joined after earning a B.A. at the University of Minnesota in 1930. He began his career in journalism as a part-time reporter for the Minneapolis Journal during 1928-29.
Although he served in many different positions and places during his long career at the Times, Mr. Salisbury is perhaps most famous for his work as Moscow correspondent, covering the U.S.S.R. during the early years of the Cold War. After serving as the Times' Moscow Bureau Chief from 1949 to 1954, he returned to the U.S. and wrote a series of articles for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1955.
He spent a great deal of time concentrating on Asia during his later years at the Times, covering the Vietnam War as well as many different issues and events having to do with China.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 23, 2011
The reviews for this book seem to be either really good or really bad.
I found the book to be an enjoyable read. Yes, it defiantely is "light", and of course its not intended to be a comprehensive documentary. If one reads this book for what it is, the journal of a media individual on a very upheaved time in Chiense history, they will certainly not be disappointed.
Harrison writes briefly, with just the right amount of detail. After reading this, you will not know everything about the happenings in Tiananmen, but you will get a good partial view of it. And, yes, the author's writing style is not amazing, but it really is good enough for this sort of a book and it is very functional.
I found the book to be an enjoyable read. Yes, it defiantely is "light", and of course its not intended to be a comprehensive documentary. If one reads this book for what it is, the journal of a media individual on a very upheaved time in Chiense history, they will certainly not be disappointed.
Harrison writes briefly, with just the right amount of detail. After reading this, you will not know everything about the happenings in Tiananmen, but you will get a good partial view of it. And, yes, the author's writing style is not amazing, but it really is good enough for this sort of a book and it is very functional.
January 31, 2020
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the free graphic novel.*
"Tiananmen Diary" tells the story of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, told from the point of view of a young sociology teacher, Lun Zhang. This graphic novel comprehensively not only covers what happened in 1989 that ended in so much bloodshed, but also offered the background knowledge needed to understand its context. The Chinese youth, mostly students, were hopeful that reforms ("democrary") could change China for the better, threatening the communist system. Authorities opened fire, driving tanks through the crowd, killing the hopes of a generation while the world was watching.
Graphic novels are an adequate way to depict historical times. The medium allowes a synthesis of text and pictures, making the experience unique. I cannot say that I 'enjoyed' reading this, but it was really really well done. Giving the Chinese youth a voice is a much needed perspective in connection to the 'June Fourth Incident'.
I found it especially chilling how the graphic novel closed with the 2019 Hong Kong protests. This conflict isn't over...
5 Stars
"Tiananmen Diary" tells the story of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, told from the point of view of a young sociology teacher, Lun Zhang. This graphic novel comprehensively not only covers what happened in 1989 that ended in so much bloodshed, but also offered the background knowledge needed to understand its context. The Chinese youth, mostly students, were hopeful that reforms ("democrary") could change China for the better, threatening the communist system. Authorities opened fire, driving tanks through the crowd, killing the hopes of a generation while the world was watching.
Graphic novels are an adequate way to depict historical times. The medium allowes a synthesis of text and pictures, making the experience unique. I cannot say that I 'enjoyed' reading this, but it was really really well done. Giving the Chinese youth a voice is a much needed perspective in connection to the 'June Fourth Incident'.
I found it especially chilling how the graphic novel closed with the 2019 Hong Kong protests. This conflict isn't over...
5 Stars
February 25, 2019
Half direct observation to the madness, half speculation and misinformation coming from the chaos. All in all, a good first hand account that should be taken with a grain of salt as not being the full picture.
April 10, 2024
I kept hanging on reading this book thinking eventually, it had to be more captivating given the subject. To me, the type of analysis I was hoping to read from the author only occurred in the final chapter of the book, which is what I was most looking forward to given his extensive knowledge of the country, it’s history, and it’s political climate. I would have given the book only one star, but the final chapter changed my mind, it was what I had hoped for all long.
June 11, 2014
Tiananmen Diary by Harrison Salisbury journals the massacre of Chinese students by the PLA. As it is the 25th anniversary of this terrifying piece of Chinese history, I decided to take it from my shelf and revisit the violent happenings of this student revolt and what led up to these events. Salisbury, a journalist and a Soviet Union and China expert, was very close to the actual event. From his diary and additional research, he provides the reader with an explanation of the demonstration, the military's mindless brutality and eventual denials of the actions seen and heard around the world. Definitely worth reading.
March 14, 2010
Fascinating book written by a reporter who was in China during and after the Tianamen Square massacre.
October 18, 2010
First hand, eyewitness account of the massacre. His journal inspires me to read more about 20th century China and the historic tensions between the people and the government.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews