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Loading... The City of Heavenly Tranquillity: Beijing in the History of Chinaby Jasper Becker
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. 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. ( ) no reviews | add a review
"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. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)951.156History and Geography Asia China and region Northeast China Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing BeijingLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. Penguin AustraliaAn edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia. |