Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom

Platt is a phenomenal writer of histories. Both Imperial Twilight and Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom are such fascinating and gripping tales. The only regret I have reading this book is the lack of more English scholarship on the material. Platt's work is ultimately introductory, and I would love to learn more about the time period. In any case, I am now a feverish partisan of Platt's, and I look forward to his future works.

As for the book itself, I can't express my admiration enough. Histories can be dry, but Platt always keeps things interesting by selecting key figures and regularly following their actions. It feels as though you're reading a dozen biographies, in a good way. All the joy, all the anxiety, the horror and exaltation that these people faced.

What enthralls me about the late Qing period is the clash of tradition and modernity. Learning about this period demonstrates how states, after the Industrial Revolution, evolved into polities whose primary purpose was the advance their economies. The contrast in characters, between Zeng Guofan and Hong Rengan in particular, demonstrates how truly capable individuals can react so differently to the tense circumstances of the late Qing. There's so much to learn from this time period, and I recommend this book without reservation.