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Autumn In The Heavenly Kingdom: China, The West, And The Epic Story Of The Taiping Civil War (2012)

by Stephen R. Platt(Favorite Author)

4.12 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0307271730 (ISBN13: 9780307271730)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Knopf

review 1: A very well-researched and neatly written historical narrative from a rather visionary angle, Platt offers insight into how a rebellion often studied in isolation from other major world events was in fact a struggle that was deeply affected by its contemporary global events. It sheds light on the British intervention in China in great detail of what happened following the Opium War, and it puts the Western powers in perspective. Specifically, it illustrates why this event mattered to the British, which is often overlooked in the textbook approach to history. Platt's strengths weave together many different strands of historical narratives, though perhaps focuses on a select key individuals at the expense of some others, and the ending was satisfying but left begging for mor... moree details about its historical legacy (a historiography segment about how the Taiping Rebellion is viewed nowadays, for example). Overall, the book is a fantastic story to place seemingly isolated events into historical context and casts all parties involved as influential players (both domestic and foreign - something that few books on the Taiping Rebellion do).
review 2: a very good narrative history of the Taiping Civil War in china in the 1850s-60s. sort of farts to an unsatisfying conclusion, but that's more about the history of the war itself than Platt's storytelling. Truly great research and excellent blending of said research with storytelling. Zeng Guofan is my favorite general who would rather be a moral philosopher. Good read, helped me get a better grasp on my 19th century chinese history. Probably not that necessary for people who are not into China. less

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