Sheridan, drawing on his extensive experience as a Far East Correspondent, takes the reader on a political journey of the 21st century, providing the background and context to understand Xi Jinping’s rise to power and his somewhat troubled and turbulent road to adulthood. The detailed biography of Xi takes the forefront of the book, with a constant stream of the ever-evolving political situation in the background, going some way to explaining the way in which he, and other senior Chinese figures, rule.
Discussions in Book Club highlighted a high volume of the references rely on unverified sources, such as Xi’s own publications. As the book progresses the reader is left with no uncertainty as to why Sheridan does not always draw his own conclusions. Those who have drawn conclusions and spoken out against Xi Jinping did not emerge unscathed.
The Red Emperor is not always a light read however provides a solid narrative in understanding the complexities of Xi Jinping’s journey to the top in what is a complicated political landscape. The question that remains is how far social privilege will get you and how much power is too much power.
Rebecca Khandpur - HR Manager
