A ground-breaking book of reportage and analysis about what is surely the world's most powerful institution: the Chinese Communist Party.

Who is running China? Where does real power lie? In Party Time, Rowan Callick goes behind the scenes to reveal the workings of its political elite.

A century after its underground beginnings, the Communist Party today exerts remarkable control. From neighbourhood disputes to the highest levels of the army, bureaucracy, commerce and the courts, it governs nearly every corner of Chinese life. Far from mellowing, today's party leadership is as focused as ever on strengthening its role and silencing dissent. But how prepared is it for the challenges it faces, and what will its success or failure mean for China and its role in the world?

Party Time is an essential and eye-opening account of this poorly understood but hugely influential player in world politics.