Sparks

Sparks by Ian Johnson delves deep into the heart of China's untold history through the eyes of its dissident historians and activists. This riveting narrative focuses on the lives of several courageous individuals who defy the stringent controls of the Chinese Communist Party to unearth and disseminate hidden truths. These include a documentary filmmaker who revealed the existence of a long-forgotten Mao-era death camp, an independent journalist who amplified the voices of those impacted by COVID-19, and a magazine publisher who dodged the secret police to expose state secrets.

In traditional China, each dynasty would rewrite history to validate their reign by discrediting their predecessors. The Chinese Communist Party has adopted and expanded upon this practice, effectively whitewashing its misdeeds to maintain its grip on power. Yet, a rising tide of critical thinkers from across the nation has started to challenge this state-driven narrative. Leveraging modern digital technologies to circumvent China's pervasive surveillance, these brave souls produce samizdat journals, guerilla media content, and underground films that document a continuous thread of disasters—from historical famines and purges to contemporary ethnic strife and viral pandemics.

Sparks offers a poignant exploration of these individual acts of resistance, situating them within the broader context of China's historical and political landscape. Based on meticulous research conducted during Xi Jinping’s tenure, the book dismantles the stereotype of a China devoid of free thought. Instead, it reveals a vibrant, albeit covert, struggle against mass forgetting—a battle over memory that is poised to shape China's future as it moves further into the 21st century.

With a masterful narrative that intertwines personal stories and historical analysis, Ian Johnson presents a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of China's underground historians. Sparks illuminates their relentless fight to preserve the truth and challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of modern China. This book is not just an account of resistance but an urgent call to recognise the importance of historical memory in shaping a just and transparent society.