By focusing on the key colourful characters of the eight major dynasties, the author brings to life 3500 years of Chinese civilization. His view starts on the borders of myth. It moves on to the greatest achievements of language and thought, the cultural treasures and imperial palaces, wars won and lands lost to the Mongols, finally to arrive at the 1912 Revolution, which contained within it the seeds of Communism that ensured the overthrow of the last emperor.
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My knowledge of China is limited to a primer I read recently and the appetite was certainly whetted. This “a Brief History” has no less whetted the interest and China is now a subject I will read with anticipation. There is, obviously, 3 millennia of history to cover and if I have a little bit of criticism of the book it tends to struggle to cover the dynasties themselves. Be that as it may what could the book have been called??? The coverage is therefore limited and so discusses specific historical events more known to the westerner. Confucianism and the Boxer rebellion for example. But for those such as me who knew little as to why the Chinese have writen characters through to the repulsive binding of women's feet this brief history imparted knowledge is ideal to whet the appetite. Another good read in the “A Brief History” serious.
