The era between empire and communism is routinely portrayed as a catastrophic interlude in China's modern history. But in this engagingly written book, Frank Dikouml;tter instead shows that the first half of the twentieth century was characterized by unprecedented openness. He argues that from 1900 to 1949, all levels of Chinese society were seeking engagement with the rest of the world and that pursuit of openness was particularly evident in four areas: governance, including advances in liberties and the rule of law; greater freedom of movement within the country and outside it; the spirited exchange of ideas in the humanities and sciences; thriving and open markets and the resulting sustained growth in the economy. Accessible to general readers and full of valuable insights for specialists,China before Maopresents a fresh way of approaching the history of modern China and shows that in politics, society, culture, and the economy, China was at its most diverse on the eve of World War II.