Description
HOLLINGTON TONG SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BOOK ON CHIANG KAI-SHEK, "To Mr. William LaVarre, In appreciation of your friendship for China & Chinese. Hollington K. Tong, Washington D.C., Jan 22, 58", by Chiang Kai-shek's teacher, journalist, Ambassador of the Republic of China to the United States (1956-58), and a member of President Chiang Kai-shek’s inner circle, inscribed to William LaVarre, American explorer, author, and editor of American Mercury Magazine. Chiang Kai-Shek by Hollington K. Tong, China Publishing Company, 1953, Hardcover w/Jacket, English, 562 pgs. The inscription, written on the first blank page, is in bold black ink. The book is in good condition, with the jacket showing wear, age toning to outside page edge.
William LaVarre (1898-1991) American explorer, author of many books on his expeditions in South America in the 1920's-1940's, including "Up the Mazaruni for Diamonds" (1919); "Gold, Diamonds, and Orchids" (1935); "Southward Ho! a Treasure Hunter in South America" (7 editions published between 1940-41). And most notably his editorship of American Mercury magazine in the 1950's. American Mercury was, at that time, owned by wealthy oilman, J. Russell Maguire, who used American Mercury to strongly support the Joseph McCarthy drive against Soviet "infiltration" of the U.S. government and promote anti-Semitic themes and arguments. When LaVarre became editor he focused most on what he thought were U.S. Government misdeeds and mistakes in both domestic and international actions. Many American Mercury articles reported news on the Civil War in China and most were strongly anti-communist in slant. LaVarre was strongly anti-communist in his writings and became friends with like-minded U.S. Military leaders and also International leaders like Madam Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Chinese after the Communist takeover of China.
$195 #11584
