Maoism at the grassroots : everyday life in Chinas era of high socialism This edited volume explores the stunning diversity in behavior outlook and viewpoints at the grassroots level of society during the Mao Zedong era. Men had gay relationships in factory dormitories teens penned searing complaints in diaries mentally ill individuals in the Beijing suburbs cursed Mao and farmers formed secret societies founded new dynasties and worshipped forbidden spirits. These diverse undercurrents were at least as mainstream in peoples everyday lives as the ideas found in Maos Little Red Book or Peoples Daily editorials. Bringing together senior scholars and up and coming researchers from China Europe North America and Taiwan the book draws on rare documents to challenge top down historical narratives. Focusing on crime labels and punishment; mobilization; culture and communication; and discontent the chapters reveal how people individually and collectively negotiated structures of power. Bringing readers stories of aggrieved schoolteachers in rural Hunan Uyghur officials in Xinjiang armed rebels on the southwest frontier and disaffected youth in Tianjin the volume sheds light on the traumas and unexpected turning points during Chinas years of high socialism raising the question of whether Maos China ever existed at all Provided by publisher