The Scramble for China: Foreign Devils in the Qing Empire, 1832-1914

(Paperback)

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'Powerful, astute and readable . . . meticulously researched, and written with flair and feeling' John Keay, Literary Review From opium wars, conquest and rebellion to the end of the Qing imperial dynasty, the history of the European colonial 'scramble' for China is one of brutality and idealism, oppression and adventure - a story that is still central to the country's image of itself today. Robert Bickers' extraordinary book tells this epic story from both European and Chinese viewpoints, as 'foreign devils' gathered around China's weakened empire and tried to build a new world. 'At every airport bookshop, the traveller is offered shelves of volumes that purport to tell us how an emerging, powerful China will deal with the world. Those who wish to understand these issues more closely might be better advised to read this fair and fascinating account' Chris Patten, Financial Times 'Packed with interesting stories from a range of official and unofficial sources, The Scramble For China at times reads like historical fiction, veering at times into action-packed tales of intrigue. Throughout it maintains a humanity and sympathy for many of the individuals depicted in its pages' Beijing Today

Reviews

Powerful, astute and readable ... meticulously researched in contemporary English-language records and journals, and written with flair and feeling, its rhetoric eschews rant and is never misplaced -- John Keay * Literary Review *
Compellingly erudite and clear-sighted history -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *
At every airport bookshop, the business traveller is offered shelves of volumes that purport to tell us how an emerging, powerful China will deal with the world, and how the rest of us should make the most of the commercial opportunities opened up by its rise. Those who wish to understand these issues more closely might be better advised to read this fair and fascinating account -- Chris Patten * Financial Times *

Author Bio

Robert Bickers is Professor of History and Director of the 'Historical Photographs of China' project at the University of Bristol. He is the author of Empire Made Me- An Englishman Adrift in Shanghai and The Scramble for China- Foreign Devils in the Qing Empire, 1832-1914.