As I learned later Andre Malraux is one of the greats of 20th century French literature.
In the 1930's the civil war in China between the nationalists, led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao's communists was temporarily put on hold as they battled the Japanese invasion. The communists were supported by Soviet Union while the nationalist had the support of the west. At this point of history Chiang Kai-shek was the dominant of the two parties and was trying to contain his 'allies' while ostensibly fighting the Japanese.
The book is set in the Shanghai of 1930's divided between the Europeans concessions and the Chinese city. The protagonists are a set of communist organizers who are setting up an insurrection in Shanghai, fighting the nationalists in the open as their superiors in Hankow are insisting that they are not to act against Chiang's forces.
In not a great number of pages the book manages to explain the development of the communist movement in China and its uneasy relationship with the nationalists. And for that itself this would have been a great read but as is the wont of great authors it is also a complex human story which manages to explore the personal stories and insecurities of its protagonist's. Chen - the terrorist, Kyo - half Japanese progressive with an open marriage, Baron de Clappique and several others have been brought to life with a few episodes and pages.
With a great French author we are obviously assured of a dose of high philosophy and the book doesn't disappoint on that count as well.
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