Malevolent as a demon. Treacherous as a serpent. Savage as a mad dog. These were only a few of the epithets that have been hurled at the 62-year-old widow of Mao Tse-tung since her arrest early last month. By last week the official campaign of vilification had turned into a formidable bill of indictment. The increasing gravity of the accusations may be a grim prelude to a secret purge trial of the "Gang of Four" —Chiang Ch'ing and the discredited leaders of Shanghai's radicals.
Radio broadcasts, the ubiquitous wall posters and rumors whispered...
To continue reading: or Log-In