China Books

Old Peking: City of the Ruler of the World - An Anthology

ELDER Chris (editor) [Other titles by this author]

Stock ID: 6714

ISBN: 9780195903041

Oxford University Press 1997

216 x 140mm; halftones; line drawings. 312pp

Covers such cultural landmarks as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palaces, and the Ming Tombs 'For those with short attention-spans this anthology of excerpts is a great find ... excellent companion for latter-day Marco Polos and Peter Fleming's attempting to negotiate the maelstrom of freeways and luxury department stores that constitute the modern Chinese capital' - Jeremy Atiyah, Independent on Sunday. 'Interesting selection of travellers and writers recording, or speculating on, the splendour and squalor of the place' - Colin Donald, The Scotsman. From the time of Marco Polo, Peking has held a fascination for travellers and has been an inspiration to those who lived there. This nostalgic collection of quotations, quips, anecdotes and descriptions conveys the spirit, atmosphere, society, art, and architecture of Beijing from the 14th century to the end of the Qing dynasty. The contributors range from missionaries, traders, and diplomats to famous visitors such as Somerset Maugham, George Bernard Shaw, and Bertrand Russell. Readership: General. Visitors to China; armchair travellers; residents (especially foreign) of Beijing; anyone who enjoys literary curiosities. (For this item please quote stock ID 6714)

Related Subject Areas:

History