After the counter-revolutionary coup in October 1976, Zhang, along with the rest of the so-called “Gang of Four”, were arrested and put in jail. Zhang kept absolutely silent to show his contempt towards the revisionists during the whole so-called “trial” in 1980, and even remained silent for the upcoming 22 years in prison. According to Zhang’s daughter Zhang Weiwei, he could barely speak when the authorities finally allowed his relatives to visit him. In 2015, the book ‘Zhang Chunqiao’s Home Letters from Prison’ was published in Hong Kong, consisting of 58 letters and one long interview with his eldest daughter Weiwei. Because of the strict censorship imposed by the so-called “Communist” Party of China, most of the contents concerned everyday subjects; the excerpts featured in this book are among the few exceptions.

This new and updated edition of our previous publication features additional letters, thorough and accurate translations, corrections to previous mistakes, and, finally, the complete extended interview with Zhang Chunqiao’s eldest daughter, Zhang Weiwei. We believe that this interview serves as an important piece to understand the extensive life of Zhang Chunqiao.