In 1936, Edgar Snow became the first western journalist to cross the boundary into communist controlled China and meet the leaders of the revolution. Red Star Over China documents his travels, conversations and observations about the communists and their beliefs.

Snow initially traveled to China with an idealistic view of Asia that was quickly shattered. He soon discovered that the country was beset by starvation and torn apart by internal political struggle and the onset of Japanese expansionism. A friend agreed to smuggle him into the communist controlled areas, and he became the first western journalist to meet and interview the leaders and followers of the revolution.

Snow reports the facts as he sees them and recorded chapter after chapter of actual dialog, also stating his impressions and conclusions about what he is reporting. He attempted to independently verify the facts of the story when possible, and admits at several points in the story that he was limited by only being in one place at a time. His report includes conversations with famous leaders of the revolution including Mao Tse-Tung and Chou En-Lai, as well as lesser known figures and common peasants.

On a number of occasions he questioned common soldiers and peasants about their feelings regarding the Red Army and communism. He was surprised to learn that they always supported the communist point of view, even if it did not improve their standard of living. He discovered they typically preferred a life of frugality and sacrifice above the previous structure of servitude and government control. Another recurring theme was the hatred of the Japanese and their occupation of China and Manchuria. Many of the stories he relates demonstrate the viciousness with which the two sides dealt with the other's followers, even killing their families, distant relatives, and at times entire villages.

This story is about Edgar Snow's travels inside communist controlled territory and he did not make an effort to contrast the political views of his hosts with that of the Nationalist government or make a judgment about which side was right. It is possible to conclude that he provided a biased account of the facts, yet he states at several points in the story that he regreted not being able to see a larger picture of events. At a minimum, this account provides a basis on which to judge the changes that occurred in China later in the century.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Edgar Snow's views and conclusions about the revolution, Red Star Over China provides a first hand prospective by a westerner to the events from the time of the rise of the Nationalist party. It is possible from his account to begin to understand the support of the farming peasant for the communists and the events leading up to the eventual overthrow of the Nationalist government.

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