1905–1972
○ Cancer
American journalist whose Red Star Over China introduced the Long March and Mao to the world
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he studied journalism and came to Shanghai in 1928, staying thirteen years in China and working for the China Weekly Review among others. Close to Soong Ching-ling, he and his wife Helen Foster (Nym Wales) taught at Yenching University in Beijing. In June 1936, carrying Soong's letter of introduction, he passed Zhang Xueliang's blockade into the Communist area and spent four months at Bao'an interviewing Mao and other leaders. Red Star Over China, published in London in 1937, introduced the Communist movement and Mao to the world. During the war with Japan he helped found the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Association, and after suspicion in the McCarthy era he moved to Switzerland. He met Mao again in 1970 and died of cancer in Switzerland in 1972, the week of Nixon's visit to China.
Also known as: Edgar Parks Snow
Activities and affiliations
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1928–1972
Literature and arts
Career Timeline
- 1928Arrives in Shanghai; China Weekly Review
- 1933Teaches at Yenching University
- 1936Interviews Mao at Bao'an
- 1937Publishes Red Star Over China
- 1938Co-founds the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Association
- 1972Dies in Switzerland
Related historical events
- 1927–1936From Jinggangshan to Yan’an: the soviet bases and the Long MarchAuthor of Red Star Over ChinaInterviewed Mao at Bao'an in 1936 and made the Long March known to the world.
- 1966–1976The Cultural RevolutionAmerican journalist on the Tiananmen rostrum on National Day 1970In December 1970 Mao told him he had decided to bring down Liu Shaoqi at the time of the Twenty-Three Articles.