Written in a prison cell in China, this powerful first book by a prominent leader symbolizes the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in the country. Wei Jingsheng, once an electrician at the Beijing Zoo, became a fearless advocate for individual rights during the Democracy Wall Movement in the late 1970s. Despite spending nearly two decades in prison, his message continues to inspire generations of Chinese democracy activists, from the students in Tiananmen Square to the citizens of Hong Kong. From his solitary confinement, he has penned bold letters to Deng Xiaoping and other Communist leaders, articulating his views on economic reform, foreign investment, Tibet, and other pressing political and social issues. The book features heartfelt letters to family and friends, an autobiographical essay, his trial defense statement, and the famous 1979 wall poster that led to his imprisonment. With humor and irony that persist despite his harsh treatment, Wei's letters illustrate courage in the face of tyranny. As a towering figure in twentieth-century China and the most significant political prisoner today, the publication of his work offers a chance to promote freedom of expression—a universal human right—and serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Jingsheng Wei Books
