Suzanne G. Valenstein

Excellent book although a little bit dated; marine archaeology has given us a lot more information since this text was written and the lack of colour photographs in this day, somewhat daunting. The Wade-Giles spellings are frustrating, too, but resolved with the help of any number of free online 'translation lists' into Pinyin. But a volume still well worth reading as so much of the information is clearly presented with details and relevant commentary often lacking in more recent texts. This is a volume I refer to often in my library and am always glad to have it at hand. A new updated edition (in Pinyin with colour plates) that takes into account more of what we know now of the 14-15C Ming Gap, and with the advantage of more recent research into European order books, stately home collections, etc. would be very welcome.… (more)