CHINA: Adventures in Eyewitness History
By
Other Adventures have included Africa, America, and Russia. The Eyewitnesses come from both within and without the country's borders, and they saw a lot over a long period of time. The format consists entirely of source material, with a very brief explanatory paragraph to explain each source. The first few selections (from Confucius, from his disciples, from Mencius, and an ancient Treaty) indicate that the book was originally intended to include examples of the major trends in Chinese thought. By themselves, however, they are notable only for their insufficiency and really just seem irrelevant. Beyond this, however, the book includes some fascinating accounts from intimate, personal details to sweeping panoramas. They date from the Han (2nd century B.C.) to the Long March of the Red Army in 1934, revealing a glittering, ultra-civilized nation turning to a backward country hopelessly entrenched in outmoded custom. It's a good collection and intriguing to read but unfortunately will probably have to be read in conjunction with a good summary of Chinese history.