Introduction / by Andrew J. Nathan -- The kiss of death -- The making of a revolutionary -- A young communist in Europe -- Building the infrastructure of revolution -- Birds of a different feather -- A rising star -- Trapping the "Chinese Khrushchev" -- "Preparing to take the test" -- "A man of both sides" -- A whirlpool of absurdity -- No exit -- Heir pre-emptive -- Night flight -- Whither China's future? -- Long knives -- From duet to duel -- Sick-bed politics -- The final battle -- Epilogue : more power in death than life.