Banished to the Great Northern Wilderness

Discover the harrowing experiences of Chinese intellectuals during a tumultuous period in history with Banished to the Great Northern Wilderness by Ning Wang. Published by Cornell University Press in 2017, this compelling paperback spans 277 pages and delves into the aftermath of Mao Zedong’s Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957–58, where many were subjected to state-mandated "re-education." Wang meticulously utilizes labor farm archives, personal interviews, and poignant memoirs to unveil the profound suffering and intricate psychological landscapes of those exiled to labor camps in Manchuria. This book not only highlights the resilience of the human spirit but also sheds light on the broader implications of political persecution in 20th-century China. A must-read for anyone interested in history, political studies, and the plight of intellectuals under authoritarian regimes.