Mao’s Last Dancer
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin, published by Penguin Books Limited on April 2, 2009, is a compelling autobiography that recounts the author’s journey from a poor village in China during the Cultural Revolution to becoming a celebrated ballet dancer. This edition spans 432 pages and is presented in English, offering readers an intimate glimpse into Li’s life, shaped by the influences of his family, the commune, and Chairman Mao’s ideologies. The narrative unfolds as Li is selected by Madame Mao’s cultural delegates to study ballet, leading him into a world far removed from his humble beginnings.
In this personal memoir, readers will discover Li’s transformative experiences, including his exposure to Western culture during a trip to Texas, which ultimately prompts his defection to the United States. The book explores themes of dance, cultural identity, and the impact of political circumstances on personal aspirations. Through Li’s distinctive voice, Mao’s Last Dancer provides an insightful perspective on the intersections of art and politics, making it a significant contribution to the genres of biography and performing arts.
Official synopsis Publisher
Raised in a desperately poor village during the height of China’s Cultural Revolution, Li Cunxin’s childhood revolved around the commune, his family and Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book. Until, that is, Madame Mao’s cultural delegates came in search of young peasants to study ballet at the academy in Beijing and he was thrust into a completely unfamiliar world. When a trip to Texas as part of a rare cultural exchange opened his eyes to life and love beyond China’s borders, he defected to the United States in an extraordinary and dramatic tale of Cold War intrigue. Told in his own distinctive voice, this is Li’s inspirational story of how he came to be Mao’s last dancer, and one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers.
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