I am a university student studying history in the UK, and am currently writing my dissertation on the impact of the great leap forward on rural society.

Does anyone here know any sites, or have any books to recommend, that might give me english translations of primary sources such as interviews or memoirs from ordinary chinese rural peasants discussing the impact of the movement on culture, education or public health, exclusively for rural peasants, during the leap years.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, many thanks,

Andy

"The Private Life of Chairman Mao" by Dr. Li Zhisui is a book I have been reading recently and personally I think it's a good first-hand source for the Cultural Revolution.

The book "To the Storm - The Odyssey of a Revolutionary Chinese Woman" by Yue Daiyun and Carolyn Wakeman is a good read.

There are plenty on education, cultural stuff in this book, but I dare to bet you there are very, very few record of peasants interview and memoirs on this world. But then again, intellectuals who work in the field should suffice right?

Some interviews with peasants, county officials, etc. about the Great Leap Forward in the newly published The Corpse Walker: Real-Life Stories, China from the Bottom-Up by Liao Yiwu, published by Pantheon. This is the second time I've mentioned this book in as many days. I hope no one thinks I'm pushing the book - on the contrary.