1997年版《餓鬼：中國的秘密大饑荒》賈斯柏·貝克著 Hungry Ghosts: China's Secret Famine by Jasper Becker, John Murray 1997 Paperback Edition

內容簡介 / Synopsis

《餓鬼：中國的秘密大饑荒》（Hungry Ghosts: China's Secret Famine）是國際知名的駐華記者、當代歷史學者賈斯柏·貝克（Jasper Becker）的里程碑式巨著。本書是西方第一部全面、深入揭露二十世紀五十年代末至六十年代初中國「大躍進」時期大饑荒的嚴肅紀實作品。作者透過極其詳實的實地調查、檔案研究以及大量對倖存者的第一手採訪，打破了數十年來的歷史沉默，以驚人的筆觸重塑了這段改變數千萬人命運的重大歷史事件。書中附有珍貴的歷史地圖、關鍵政治人物照片以及當時宣傳與現實對比的珍貴插圖。

Hungry Ghosts: China's Secret Famine is a monumental work of historical journalism by acclaimed British journalist and author Jasper Becker. It stands as the first comprehensive account in the Western world to fully investigate and expose the catastrophic famine that struck China during the Great Leap Forward from 1958 to 1962. Drawing on meticulous archival research, field investigations, and countless firsthand interviews with survivors, Becker breaks decades of silence to document one of the greatest human tragedies of the 20th century. The book is complete with historical maps, critical photographic plates of key political figures, and striking archival illustrations contrasting propaganda with stark reality.

歷史背景與重要性 / Historical Background & Significance

自1996年首次出版以來，本書在國際學術界與現代歷史研究領域引發了巨大迴響。《經濟學人》、《金融時報》及《旁觀者》等多家主流媒體均給予極高評價，盛讚其「打破了雙邊刻意保持的沉默」。在本書問世前，國際上關於這場大饑荒的系統性研究極其匱乏。貝克的調查不僅理清了其背後的政治決策與烏托邦式工程的盲目性，更賦予了無數受害者一個不被遺忘的名字。這部著作早已成為所有研究現代中國歷史、政治經濟學及當代亞洲社會學學者的必讀經典，具備無可替代的文獻與收藏價值。

Since its initial release in 1996, Hungry Ghosts has been hailed by the international academic community as a definitive and courageous work of modern history. Prominent global publications, including The Economist, Financial Times, and The Spectator, have lauded Becker for shattering the long-standing wall of silence surrounding this period. Before this book, comprehensive literature on the true human toll of the Great Leap Forward was scarce in the West. Becker’s sharp analysis deconstructs the flawed political doctrines and utopian engineering that precipitated the crisis. Today, this work remains an indispensable cornerstone for scholars of modern Chinese history, political economy, and Asian studies, carrying enduring institutional and collectible value.

書本狀態說明 / Condition Report

 版本與裝訂： 英國著名出版社 John Murray 於1996年首版後，於1997年發行的平裝版（Paperback Edition），附有完整的插圖頁與歷史地圖。

 外觀狀況： 封面與封底保存完整，邊緣有自然、輕微的歲月翻閱痕跡與書角微磨損，整體結構依舊堅固（Tight binding）。

 內頁狀況： 內頁無任何劃線、塗鴉或揉褶。因年代久遠，內頁、扉頁及切面呈現出老書特有的自然、均勻狐斑（Foxing/Age spots），極具歲月質感。

 流傳標籤（Provenance）： 書籍封底保留了極具歷史感、當年香港「三聯書店（Joint Pub. Co.）」的早期標價貼紙（售價港幣 $170.00），記錄了這本英文禁籍當年通過香港流入特定讀者圈層的獨特流傳歷史，對稀有書藏家而言，是一段極具趣味的流變佐證。

 Edition & Binding: Published by the renowned John Murray (London), this is the 1997 paperback edition following the 1996 first printing, containing all original photo plates, illustrations, and maps.

 Exterior Condition: The covers remain intact with natural, honest shelf wear to the edges and minor creasing around the corners. The spine is uncracked, and the binding remains firm and tight.

 Interior Condition: The pages are clean and entirely free of underlining, highlighting, or marginalia. Consistent with its age, the paper stock, half-title pages, and edges show uniform, natural foxing (age spots), giving it an authentic vintage patina.

 Provenance/Markings: The back cover features a historic original retail price tag from Hong Kong's famous "Joint Publishing Co. (三聯書店)" priced at HK$170.00. This tag beautifully preserves the book’s institutional journey, tracing how this critical text circulated through Hong Kong in the late 1990s, offering high contextual appeal for collectors.