The Age of Openness: China Before Mao is a 2008 book by historian Frank Dikötter. It provides an account of the history of the Republic of China, spanning from the early 20th century to the Chinese Communist Party takeover in 1949. Dikötter describes a period of unprecedented openness during which China was actively pursuing engagement with the world, as evidenced by what he described as a pluralistic intellectual environment, thriving open markets and economic growth, and expanded liberties and rule of law. Source: Wikipedia (en)