Li (modern Chinese history, University of Texas-Austin) studies the most prominent historians in China who contributed to the construction or deconstruction of the country's master narrative. He delves into their academic training, intellectual inclinations, and the specific political circumstances of their times that motivated their writing. The book begins with material on nationalist and Marxist historiography before 1949, then concentrates on historiography after 1949, with chapters on Marxist historiography of the 1950s, the radicalization of historiography under Mao, 'New Enlightenment' historiography in the 1980s, the paradigmatic transition in Reform Era historiography, and the master historical narratives in their present crisis. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)