HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

The City of Heavenly Tranquillity: Beijing in the History of China

by Jasper Becker

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
792336,726 (4.22)1
"In City of Heavenly Tranquility, long-time resident and journalist Jasper Becker brings back to life the emperors, eunuchs, courtesans, and warriors who for centuries ruled from behind the red walls of the Forbidden City. Becker mixes his own experiences with poignant stories from those who have tried to preserve China's past, struggling against ruthless officials and a fiercely nationalistic government set on changing the fabric of a nation by jettisoning the past and clearing space for the future. In the process, China's officials are demolishing homes and destroying livelihoods, and evicting over three million residents in Beijing alone."--BOOK JACKET.… (more)
None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 1 mention

Showing 2 of 2
This is one of the most fascinating book about the history of Beijing within the history of China. The book is a collection of chapters about different periods in Beijing's history and the people who were effected, usually negatively. After finished Becker's book, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of depression at history and culture of Beijing (and China) that was destroyed by the Cultural Revolution and the Communists. Becker sprinkles the book with his own insights and his feelings of loss at the destruction of all the history of China/Beijing, which I found both interesting and sad. If anything, City of Heavenly Tranquility caused me to be more interested in China, past and present. ( )
  callmecayce | Apr 24, 2012 |
A series of articles rather than a comprehensive history of Beijing by an author who laments the destruction of the old imperial city. ( )
  mercure | Nov 29, 2009 |
Showing 2 of 2
no reviews | add a review
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

"In City of Heavenly Tranquility, long-time resident and journalist Jasper Becker brings back to life the emperors, eunuchs, courtesans, and warriors who for centuries ruled from behind the red walls of the Forbidden City. Becker mixes his own experiences with poignant stories from those who have tried to preserve China's past, struggling against ruthless officials and a fiercely nationalistic government set on changing the fabric of a nation by jettisoning the past and clearing space for the future. In the process, China's officials are demolishing homes and destroying livelihoods, and evicting over three million residents in Beijing alone."--BOOK JACKET.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.22)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3 2
3.5
4 3
4.5
5 4

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

» Publisher information page

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,187,076 books! | Top bar: Always visible