The Book of Secrets: A Personal History of Betrayal in Red China

“No one has done more than Xinran to tell the truth about the lives of ordinary people in twentieth-century China. Her Book of Secrets is a tale of horror, redeemed as always by the story-teller's warmth, grace and narrative grip.” ―Hilary Spurling, author of Burying the Bones

“An extraordinary book of huge historical interest and value, exactly the kind of book that the Western world needs to read, to understand the complexity of the Chinese political worldview since 1949.” ―Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global History

“Xinran's talent is to survey the vast tidal waves of history and focus in on the human lives floating rudderless in their wake. This is a wonderful and compelling read.” ―Tim Clissold, author of Mr China and Cloud Chamber

“Xinran recounts an epic journey through China's recent history with a rare passion and clarity. The tale is seen through the tragic experience of a once powerful family, whose suffering she describes as though it were her own.” ―Patrick Marnham, author of The Man Who Wasn't Maigret

“The Book Of Secrets is the remarkable story of [a] deeply dysfunctional family.” ―Mail on Sunday

“The Book of Secrets [is] a particularly rare thing: a candid, insider account showing just how much the party knew and how much it covered up.” ―Cindy Yu, The Spectator

Xinran Xue is a British–Chinese author, journalist and activist. Her first book, The Good Women of China, was published in 2002 and became an international bestseller. Her most recent book The Promise was shortlisted for the Society of Authors Translation Prize.

In August 2004 Xinran set up 'The Mothers' Bridge of Love' (MBL), which reaches out to Chinese children in all corners of the world. By creating a bridge of understanding between China and the West and between adoptive culture and birth culture, MBL ultimately wants to help bridge the huge poverty gap that still exists in many parts of China.