The Shortest History of China: From the Ancient Dynasties to a Modern Superpower--A Retelling for Our Times

Journey across epic China--through millennia of early innovation to modern dominance. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

As we enter the "Asian century," China demands our attention for being an economic powerhouse, a beacon of rapid modernization, and an assertive geopolitical player. To understand the nation behind the headlines, we must take in its vibrant, tumultuous past--a story of "larger-than-life characters, philosophical arguments and political intrigues, military conflicts and social upheavals, artistic invention and technological innovation."

The Shortest History of China charts a path from China's tribal origins through its storied imperial era and up to the modern Communist Party under Xi Jinping--including the rarely told story of women in China and the specters of corruption and disunity that continue to haunt the People's Republic today. A master storyteller and exacting historian, Linda Jaivin distills this vast history into a short, riveting account that today's globally minded readers will find indispensable.

Publisher: Experiment
Published: 09/28/2021
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.5lbs
Size: 7.72h x 5.12w x 0.87d
ISBN: 9781615198207


Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2022

About the Author
Jaivin, Linda: - Linda Jaivin is an American-born, internationally published Australian essayist, novelist, translator, and specialist writer on China. Her books include The Monkey and the Dragon, the city profile Beijing, and several China-based novels. Her essays have appeared in a wide range of publications in Australia and beyond. She has previously lived, studied, and worked in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Beijing.