The Pageant of Chinese History

(ordered from Sandy's ILL for June 2014 discussion in Children's Books).
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Ironically, I'm finding this to be the most engaging of this month's books (the Newbery Honor books from 1935). I can't seem to say why, exactly - maybe simply because my expectations were so low! Turns out that, while it is basically a simple history, it's told with lots of little stories, each capturing a snapshot of history and representing a dynasty or province.

I liked the introduction, which explains that the book needed to be written because the author, while teaching in the public schools, found it appalling that she could find no materials that presented the Far East to middle-grade students. My edition is from 1962, show more with additional material to that point, so I look forward to her coverage of Communism etc.

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Done. The author clearly loves the Chinese people and culture and is deeply and horribly prejudiced against the Tartars (the barbarians" including the Mongols, etc.), but overall I'm glad this book is available and I'm glad I read it. I know I have to study a lot more to have any valid knowledge of China, but this is an interesting primer. About Communism - Seeger tries to give it the benefit of the doubt, hoping that it will work out well, but admits that we can't know yet (again, as of 1962)." show less