Reds: A Global History of Communism

From “possibly the most engaged mainstream journalist of our age” (New Statesman) comes a new global history of communism—ranging from Renaissance England to 21st century China and tracing communism’s transformation from a political idea, into a mass movement, and ultimately into totalitarian regimes that covered half the earth.

Twenty years ago, we thought we’d seen the last of communism. Today, the world’s most successful economy labels itself communist. If China becomes the dominant count...