The Opium War : drugs, dreams and the making of China /

Lovell, Julia, 1975-

The Opium War : drugs, dreams and the making of China / [Book] : Julia Lovell. - London : Picador, 2012. - xxiv, 456 pages, [32] pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps, ports. (some color) ; 20 cm.

The conflict turned out to be rich in tragicomedy: in bureaucratic fumblings, military missteps, political opportunism and collaboration. Yet over the past 170 years, this strange tale of misunderstanding, incompetence and compromise has become the founding myth of modern Chinese nationalism: the start of China’s heroic struggle against a Western conspiracy to destroy the country with opium and gunboat diplomacy.

9780330457484 (paperback) 0330457489 (paperback)

GBB230779 bnb

016057173 Uk

951.033