CHINA

China, a sweeping epic of East and West, tells the story of 19th-century China, a proud and ancient empire forbidden to foreigners. The West desires Chinese tea, but lacks the silver to buy it, leading to the smuggling of opium in exchange. This sets off the Opium Wars, a period of bloody military defeats, reparations, and one-sided treaties known as the Century of Humiliation. From the exotic wonders of the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City to the squalid village huts, the dramatic struggle rages across the Celestial Kingdom. The book introduces a diverse cast of characters, including a young village wife, Manchu empresses and warriors, powerful eunuchs, fanatical Taiping and Boxer Rebels, and savvy Chinese pirates, artists, concubines, scoundrels, and heroes. Fortunes will rise and fall, loves will be gained and lost, as the clash of worldviews, culture, and heritage is shown in a kaleidoscope of jaw-dropping set pieces. This unforgettable tale is told from both sides of the divide, offering a unique perspective on the great clash of East and West in 19th-century China.