The Halberd at Red Cliff
The Halberd at Red Cliff by Tian Xiao Fei (2018) is an excellent addition to my library of literature on The Three Kingdoms. Tian is…
Coronation Everest
I have finally witnessed a Coronation. The last coronation was 70 years ago. King Charles III was crowned yesterday on 6 May 2023, 2 days…
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Vermeer
Johannes Vermeer’s oeuvre consists of a mere 36 paintings. But the sheer quality of these paintings resulted in the current exhibition of 28 of his…
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Venice
James Morris is a travel writer of exquisite talent. His books provide in-depth historical context, unlike other travel writers. The World of Venice is a…
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Studying St Paul
As we celebrate Easter, the figure of St Paul looms large in our horizon. His 10 celebrated letters, more than any other writer, set the…
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China: The Republican Era
The era between Imperial China and Socialist China is called the Republican era. From 1900 to 1949 the ordinary Chinese sought to improve their lives,…
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The latest addition
I acquired 2 books on 25 February 2023. Destination Casablanca is a history of Casablanca during World War 2. It is a homage to a…
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Saving China’s imperial treasures
There are 2 excellent books on how the Chinese saved their imperial treasures from the Japanese invaders. They are The Odyssey of China’s Imperial Art…
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1860–1912: China in visual
Here are three excellent books on China from 1860 to 1912 conveyed through photos, sketches, and postcards. The Chinese Empire is published by a Hong…
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Introduction to Western specialists on China’s history (Part 5)
Susan Naquin is an American professor of history at Princeton University. She specialises in late Imperial China history. Here are 4 of her books. They…
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In the Wake of the Mongols
This 2018 book examines how the Chinese society in Northern China, in general, and in Shanxi in particular, reorganized itself after the devastating invasion of…
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