China by Edward Rutherfurd

School just started and I have already submitted an order for a title requested by a student: CHINA by Edward Rutherfurd.  This 700+ page book is quite an ambitious undertaking, but like Rutherfurd’s earlier works (New York, Paris, etc.) it is meticulously researched and filled with intriguing details. In this case, the focus is on nineteenth century China with sections about The Boxer Rebellion, First Opium War, and China’s relationship with European states, especially the British. As always, Rutherfurd employs a range of characters, many of whom are common people, to vividly relay history. Rutherfurd’s Sarum (in large part about the construction of Salisbury Cathedral) is one of my favorite books and I would especially recommend his work to fans of Ken Follett. CHINA is an Editors’ pick (for Best Literature and Fiction) on Amazon although other professional reviews were rather mixed.