This book investigates the complex interplay of revolution, resistance, and reform in rural Chinese society during the 20th century. Mark Selden, a noted historian of modern China, draws upon extensive archival research and primary source materials to analyze the forces that shaped village life and political change. The work presents a nuanced argument about the agency of peasants and the evolving dynamics of state-society relations in the face of profound ideological and economic transformations.

Mark Selden's work is recognized for its detailed scholarship on modern Chinese rural history. The book is noted for its in-depth analysis of peasant agency and its critical examination of state-led transformations. Scholars often cite it as a significant contribution to understanding the complexities of social and political change in 20th-century China.