This is a beautifully illustrated book on all the buildings and gardens of the Old Summer Palace. Known in Chinese as Yuan Ming Yuan (…
View More The Old Summer Palace – China’s Lost Imperial Garden: The World’s Most Exquisite Garden Rediscovered
Month: September 2019
Wonderful essays – Jottings under Lamplight
If you have read the wonderful collection of short fiction by Lu Xun translated by Julia Lovell and published by Penguin Classic you will enjoy…
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Beautiful book– Captain Cook and the Pacific: Art, Exploration and Empire
A beautifully illustrated book. One can find many gems in this book. All 3 voyages are explored fully from the social and historical angles.
View More Beautiful book– Captain Cook and the Pacific: Art, Exploration and Empire
A gripping story – The Qing Empire and the Opium War: The Collapse of the Heavenly Dynasty
Mao has written an interesting book based on Chinese and Japanese sources, but it does not deserve 5 stars { not the fault of Mao}…
View More A gripping story – The Qing Empire and the Opium War: The Collapse of the Heavenly Dynasty
Whodunnit – Midnight in Peking: The Murder That Haunted the Last Days of Old China
Inspired by a footnote in a bio of Edgar Snow of Red Star over China fame, French tracked down newspapers from archives in Peking, Shanghai,…
View More Whodunnit – Midnight in Peking: The Murder That Haunted the Last Days of Old China
A brief description – Following Hadrian: A Second-Century Journey Through the Roman Empire
If you are looking for an introductory book on Hadrian and his travels which is written in an easy-going style this book is for you.…
View More A brief description – Following Hadrian: A Second-Century Journey Through the Roman Empire
Good reportage – Into the Hands of the Soldiers: Freedom and Chaos in Egypt and the Middle East
This book by an international correspondent for the NYT is a ground – level reporting of the events and leaders involved in the toppling of…
View More Good reportage – Into the Hands of the Soldiers: Freedom and Chaos in Egypt and the Middle East
Beautiful coffee table book – The Longest Day
This is an illustrated edition published for the 70th anniversary of D-day. Its strengths are that it contains the entire text of the original book,…
View More Beautiful coffee table book – The Longest Day
Provoking book – Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy
Ac Brown is a practising Muslim who can read Arabic. His book is learned and covers many areas and issues that would interest believers and…
View More Provoking book – Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy
Excellent – Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic
Michael Axworthy writes very well. Readers looking for a readable history of the causes that led to the fall of the Shah in 1979 to…
View More Excellent – Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic