A remarkable history of the two-centuries-old relationship between the United States and China; from the Revolutionary War to the present dayFrom the clipper ships that ventured to Canton hauling cargos of American ginseng to swap Chinese tea; to the US warships facing off against China's growing navy in the South China Sea; from the Yankee missionaries who brought Christianity and education to China; to the Chinese who built the American West; the United States and China have always been dramatically intertwined. For more than two centuries; American and Chinese statesmen; merchants; missionaries; and adventurers; men and women; have profoundly influenced the fate of these nations. While we tend to think of America's ties with China as starting in 1972 with the visit of President Richard Nixon to China; the patterns―rapturous enchantment followed by angry disillusionment―were set in motion hundreds of years earlier. Drawing on personal letters; diaries; memoirs; government documents; and contemporary news reports; John Pomfret reconstructs the surprising; tragic; and marvelous ways Americans and Chinese have engaged with one another through the centuries. A fascinating and thrilling account; The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom is also an indispensable book for understanding the most important―and often the most perplexing―relationship between any two countries in the world.
#1238092 in Books Owl Books 2004-02-01 2004-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 228.60 x 1.32 x 6.00l; 1.95 #File Name: 0805062610592 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. TimelyBy J. A. DonaghyThis is not an easy book to read. The stories; though all too short; lay bare the small; and not so small acts of rescuing; hiding; helping; and being alongside those whom the German authorities were trying to eliminate. These people tried to welcome the other; opening doors; homes; and hearts.I found myself overwhelmed at times with the style of the author who related story after story.At times I found the author's prose a bit ponderous. That is my major problem with the book. Some longer stories would have helped give some depth to the narrative.But I'm challenged by reading this.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great book on the recuers of The Holocaust!By Robert KiehnAuthor Martin Gilbert had written yet another excellent book; this time detailingthe darkest time in human history and that is The Holocaust.This book deals mainly with those who rescued Jews during The Holocaust and somestories may seem familiar because a few; maybe more; I have read in Gilbert's bookThe Holocaust (1986) which was another well written book on the subject.The rescuers of the Jews; there stories are told in this book. Not every story can be toldof course but many are and each nation is listed in each chapter followed by the storiesof those whom dared risked their life to save a Jew or perhaps hundreds of them or more.A great book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy G. M. GoreThis book arrived in excellent condition. Thanks.
