The Lucky Son by Li Cunxin - ISBN: 9781761352607
Paperback
From poverty to global fame: a life of fortune and gratitude.
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The Lucky Son

The Sequel to Mao's Last Dancer

$31.45

  • Paperback

    480 pages

  • Release Date

    6 October 2026

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Summary

The sequel to Mao’s Last Dancer - the highly anticipated follow-up to one of the world’s most beloved books.

Li Cunxin captivated the world with his unforgettable memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer - the extraordinary rags-to-riches story of how a poor peasant boy, the sixth of seven sons, was plucked from his classroom to train at the Beijing Dance Academy - a lucky ticket out of poverty, out of communist China - to become one of the world’s most acclaimed ballet dancers.

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781761352607
ISBN-10:1761352601
Author:Li Cunxin
Publisher:Penguin Random House Australia
Imprint:Penguin Random House Australia
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:480
Release Date:6 October 2026
Dimensions:1mm x 1mm x 1mm
The Lucky Son by Li Cunxin - ISBN: 9781761352607
1 × 1 mm
A-Format
B-Format
C-Format
A4
mm / in
About The Author

Li Cunxin

Li Cunxin AO was born in communist China in 1961, the sixth of seven sons in a poor rural family. His life under Chairman Mao’s regime changed dramatically when, at the age of eleven, he was chosen to become a student at the Beijing Dance Academy.

Li went on to become one of the finest male dancers in the world, and was principal dancer at Houston Ballet and the Australian Ballet. From 2012 until the end of 2023 he was artistic director at Queensland Ballet, and in 2025 he was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Prix de Lausanne for his outstanding contribution to the arts and dance.

Li’s memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer, is one of the most successful autobiographies of all time. It was published around the world and has been adapted into a young readers’ edition, a picture book, a stage play, and a major motion picture.

Li lives with his wife, Mary, in Brisbane. He continues to contribute to the world of ballet and to Australia’s cultural life.

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