Letters From China, With Particular Reference to the Empress Dowager and the Women of China (Classic Reprint)

Letters from China offers a window into early 20th‑century life at the Chinese court and beyond, through a personal, letters‑based memoir.From the foreword to the last page, this collection uses private letters written to a daughter and family to share real experiences, travels, and encounters across China and Hong Kong. It blends historical events with intimate observations, revealing both the weight of tradition and the moment when foreigners shaped their views of a vast empire. This edition gathers vivid scenes, from the Great Wall to bustling city streets, and offers a grounded look at daily life, diplomacy, and cultural exchange.Personal letters that illuminate daily life, customs, and etiquette in Chinese societyEyewitness chapters on travel, key sites, and moments of historical upheavalPortraits of people, places, and the foreign legations during a pivotal eraReflections on culture, diplomacy, and how outsiders and locals perceived one anotherIdeal for readers of history and memoirs who want a grounded, firsthand perspective on China during a transformative period. Read more