China

Consummate storytelling in place and time

I have read previous books by Rutherfurd, mainly those set in this country, around smaller locations, but over a much longer period of history – indeed even encompassing pre-history (London) This writer is a wonderful, in many ways, old fashioned teller of story – and I mean this without criticism. In telling history across millennia with necessarily a huge cast of characters the last thing to do is to overcomplicate with stylistic fol-de-rols, when plot and character and the reality of historical event are complexity enough.

In China. Rutherford is of course working with a huge geographical canvas, but restricts his canvas of time to a short, though complicated period of time – the First Opium War between Britain and China 1839-1842, and continuing, with some little time jumps, until just after the end of The Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901.

This period of time allows the examination of events from both the British point of view (another shameful example of greed and colonial arrogance) and conflicting sides within Chinese dynasties.

In China, rather than plethora of characters to engage with, through generations, Rutherfurd focuses on a small group, whose fortunes and family dynamics across the 60 years are followed. Rather than staying with queens and emperors, for the most part he looks at the lives of little people, though with gradations of influence

Jiang Shi-Rong, whom we first meet as a young man, is making his first steps up a civil service ladder, and has been raised correctly and morally, with habits of obedience to traditional Confucian values. Mei-Ling is the recently, happily married wife of a peasant, too poor to have had her feet bound. Extraordinarily pretty, had her parents been better off, she would most probably have been mutilated this way, and sold as a concubine to a rich merchant. Instead, she was a ‘love match’ choice of the Second Son of a higher status peasant. Mei-Ling has an even poorer younger cousin, who has, in her eyes, the status of ‘Little Brother’ He is a more volatile, rebellious character, and his fortunes will be linked with conflicts and factions.

Another character, Guanji, a Manchu, also suffers changes in fortune due to the capture of the then important port of Zhapu by the British, at the end of the First Opium War, as his family are killed, or take their own lives, in the battle to impose the profiteering values of British financial interest on a Chinese empire who declared the Opium Trade illegal

The British interpretation of events, with a British character who also follows where fortunes lie, is given by the aptly named John Trader.

A final major character is ‘Lacquer Nail’ whose life will change in a very dramatic way, once again linked to failing family fortunes, and the influence of Britain’s business interests in selling opium. Lacquer Nail gives insight into life in the Forbidden City, and makes connections with a real historical figure, the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Rutherfurd is a wonderful writer for those of us who love to get a sense of history, politics, economics, ideology and the like, but bound up with story, narrative, character. My, he does this well, and there has been so much to take away and ponder on. Not least how all of this nineteenth century history with the West imposing addiction on the East, has doubled back upon us. It also has much to say, on reflection, as China seems set to becomes the twenty-first century superpower

I was delighted to receive this as an ARC from the publishers, via NetGalley. All I will say is that the formatting as an ARC did not give me the beautiful design graphics and line drawings which I know are scattered within the book. I assume these will be available on published eBook release, which perhaps can be checked on the ‘look inside’ facility

China by Edward Rutherfurd is an epic tale of China in the 19th Century starting when the mighty Empire found itself literally out-gunned by the encroaching Western powers who were determined that the country's laws and regulations would not get in the way of lucrative trading. Britain in particular wanted Tea and brought Opium into China illegally to pay for it with the Opium Wars being one this country's less glorious episodes.
Rutherfurd's book has a cast of characters from Mandarins and Emperors,Warriors,Missionaries Peasants and many more. It spans a period of time know as "The Century of Humiliation" as China is ripped apart by foreign invaders and factional fighting between rival clans. As always with Rutherfurd's books it's as much a history lesson as a work of fiction and it's a fascinating insight into aspects of Chinese culture and customs or the era as a bonus.
I did find it dragged in places but on the whole a great read and up to Rutherfurd's usual high standards, I read his "London" and "Sarum" books several years ago. This book covers a far shorter period of time than those books and has a smaller cast of characters but as ever with this author it's a big old lump of a book.
A great book with plenty of memorable characters and not least shows that Western attitudes towards China today are pretty much the same as they were in the 19th Century.
If you've read Anthony Grey's excellent "Peking",an equally weighty tome, this is an ideal insight into an earlier China that finishes almost where Grey's begins historically.

I love Edward rutherfurds books they are so long and so very readable this one does not disappoint. It doesn't start as early as some if his previous novels but still a cracking read. Stick the kettle on lock the doors and sit back and enjoy.

I have read several books by Edward Rutherfurd and liked all of them. This book, like the others, gives you a lesson in history but in fiction form. This book is a history of China from the Opium Wars up to and including the Boxer Uprising - a period of roughly 70 years. The author follows several fictitious families, both Chinese and British, throughout this period. It charts the ever changing relationships between both the people and the governments.

The more I read, the more I was drawn into the book. I had heard about both the Opium Wars and the Boxer Uprisings, but I didn't know Britain's part in these events, or the changes they instigated. The characters came alive to me - some more than others, I would love a sequel following the same families, but depicting the period from the end of the Boxer Uprising to the present day.

This book is not for somebody who likes to dip in and out of a book. It is a very large book, and needs some concentration. Personally, the more I read, the more I wanted to read - when I finished it, I had enjoyed it so much, it took a few days before I felt that I could leave this behind and start a new book.

If you enjoy sagas and also enjoy learning about history without being bored with non-fiction books, this is highly recommended. After a couple of 'chick=lit" books, I intend to re=read the rest of Edward Rutherfurd books.

Where to begin?

I’ve been a fan of Edward Rutherford since picking up a copy of ‘Dublin’ in an airport newsagent for some holiday reading, a good solid tome of a book that would easily last the 5 days of my holiday.. at least I thought, I devoured the pages in less than 3 days, such is the style of his writing that leaves a reader wanting more!

‘China’ Is no different, a good solid book, it looks intimidating just from the sheer size of it (784 pages) - however once again I found myself slipping into the familiar and comforting writing style that Rutherford has.

The research he pours into his work is incredible, he takes historic events and creates characters and families to build around them, we follow the families sagas and dynasties through centuries of history, events and tragedies, love, life and death.

This is a book I will pick up again, maybe when I want to read something familiar and comforting.
I look forward to reading more of his work in the future, and urge everyone to read him at least once!

This is a monster of a book at over 800 pages, so it did take me a bit of time to get through!

Not one of those minutes was wasted though...this is an epic story, following many different people whose lives intertwine beautifully in different ways.

I’ve been to China, and I studied quite a lot about the culture and the sights to see before I went, so for me this was extra special to see it all come to life and to be able to visualise what was happening where (I've seen the concrete boat for example!).

Not once did this book waffle, or lose its way which some larger books can sometimes do, it held me front start to finish.

Just absolutely wonderful!

My thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy!

Taking a recent period in China’s long history Edward Rutherford has created a epic tale of love, loss , deception and intrigue. Real history mixed with superb fiction has created a tour de force.

First of all, this book is an absolute BEAST! Don't expect to read it in one sitting, or even five. It's huge. However, it is absolutely fantastic and you'll be sad it's finished!
The story covers the Opium Wars up to the Boxer Rebellion, a lot of which I did not know about. There is an amazing level of detail in the book and ended up learning about a fascinating piece of history.
I will certainly be reading Edward Rutherfurd's other books!

Rutherford has written some amazing books. For me, China is the epic and his best. Right from the first page, I was drawn into a different and mysterious world, one which I first explored in novels by Amitav Ghosh. Rutherford’s research and attention to historical fact and detail is meticulous and this book is filled with characters who the reader sees develop and follows over the years.

There are political intrigues, diplomacy, cultural differences, traditions, jealousies, rivalries, greed...everything is there. I found it a totally subversive read. One I could pick up and be transported to different times and issues and that’s the skill of a truly great storyteller. Cant oraise this enough.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

It was no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed "China", as "Sarum" (by the same author) is among my favourite books of all time. Edward Rutherfurd packs his writing full of atmosphere, his characters full of life, and his plots full of that "one more chapter" factor that keeps you reading way past your bedtime and sneaking in a few more pages whenever there is a few minutes to spare. "China" is truly outstanding.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Another sprawling tale of a historical era from this master of the craft. From the Opium wars to the Boxer rebellion characters from both sides Chinese and European have their stories told all cleverly interlocking. Eunuchs and peasants, traders and religious evangelists all have interesting tales told in this lovely epic leading to the time of the last emperor. Clever use of actual events make for a fascinating worthwhile read.

An excellent read. The way Edward Rutherford weaves a single story of inter connected lives whilst covering historical events is inspired. This reminded me of the style and engaging approach of his earlier novel, New York.

For avid fans of Edward Rutherford, yet another wonderful historical novel! China portrays the tensions and inequalities in the history of the Opium Wars and the subsequent Boxer Rebellion at the height of the British Empire. Narrated through the fictional character, palace eunuch, Lacquer Nail, the novel provides an insight into the authority of the Dowager Empress Cixi as regent and her ability to hold power for so long. I must admit, before I began reading China, I was expecting the novel to begin at an earlier time in history than the 18th century as with Rutherford’s previous novels. However, China more than compensated with the vivid portrayal of historical characters and events of a fascinating moment in Chinese history.