Modern China: A Guide to a Century of Change [Hardcover]

Graham Hutchings (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2001

In the new millennium all eyes are on China, which many believe has the potential in the near future to rise to world prominence as a political leader and an economic powerhouse. Yet several aspects of Chinese society remain an obstacle to internal growth and of deep concern to the outside world.

In Modern China Graham Hutchings offers a timely and useful reference guide to the people, places, ideas, and events crucial to an understanding of this rising power. The focus is on society and politics and their impact on both China and the world. After an introduction that discusses key themes in twentieth-century China, Hutchings provides over two hundred insightful short essays, arranged alphabetically, that cover central figures and events from Sun Yat-sen to Jiang Zemin and the Boxer Rebellion to Tiananmen Square. Included are separate entries on each province, the current political leadership, and the two colonies recently returned to Chinese control, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as trenchant essays on subjects that remain sensitive within and controversial outside China, such as religion, ethnic minorities, Tibet, Taiwan, and human rights.

Accessible and authoritative, Modern China is invaluable for anyone interested in the transformation of this ancient land into a modern power.

(20020401)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book offers an excellent summary of many important aspects of China in the modern era. As the China correspondent for London's Daily Telegraph for over a decade, educated at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, Hutchings has compiled a useful "dictionary" of prominent people, places, policies, and political events that comprise the country's landscape. The entries, preceded by an introduction discussing general themes, are concise and complete, simplified but not simplistic, and supplemented by helpful inserts. For example, "The Life of the Land" inserts throughout the book, which describe the geography of various areas of China, provide much-needed information about important aspects of life in China. This text is similar to the Dictionary of the Politics of the People's Republic of China, edited by Colin Mackerras (LJ 5/01/98), but is more in-depth, presenting chronological stages of China's relations with specific countries and ideologies. Highly recommended. Peggy Spitzer Christoff, Rockville, MD
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This book offers an excellent summary of many important aspects of China in the modern era. As the China correspondent for London's Daily Telegraph for over a decade, educated at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, Hutchings has compiled a useful "dictionary" of prominent people, places, policies, and political events that comprise the country's landscape. The entries, preceded by an introduction discussing general themes, are concise and complete, simplified but not simplistic, and supplemented by helpful inserts...Highly recommended. (Peggy Spitzer Library Journal )

Hutching's focus on events of the 20th century provides a clean temporal boundary--a century marked by revolutionary movements and institutions, change and evolutions, all dominated by communism--the period in which China established itself as a major actor on the world stage. The author intends to create "neither a dictionary nor an encyclopedia," "to be authoritative rather than academic; comprehensive rather than exhaustive; enjoyable as well as enlightening." The result is a work that can serve as a reference resource, tempered by a recognition of the author's deliberate use of "point of view" essays...[T]he book has much value. It is an ambitious and affordable resource. (K. W. Berger Choice )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (November 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674006585
• ISBN-13: 978-0674006584
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,389,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific guide and wonderful information, June 15, 2002

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Modern China: A Guide to a Century of Change (Hardcover)

I bought this book because I have had the good fortune to work on a number of teams at the b-school with a number of students from China. It seemed to me that I could benefit from knowing more about the China of today rather than the Red China I grew up with.

The value of this book can best be described by the reaction of the Chinese students to it. They couldn't put it down. They flipped from topic to topic and talked about it with each other and with me. They praised the articles the book contains.

It isn't a narrative. It is a series of articles on important topics and arranged alphabetically. It contains many valuable maps, photos, and diagrams. You can dive in the book anywhere and jump around to find things that interest you and just enjoy this book over and over again. Well done!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First-rate, April 22, 2002

By 

Michael Albert Riccardi - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern China: A Guide to a Century of Change (Hardcover)

This is a first-rate guidebook to the politics and economy of China in the 21st Century. From the Boxer Rebellion to the return of Hong Kong, here is the entire drama of modern China in a useful and readable dictionary format. Hutchings describes the country province-by-province, giving the reader insight into lesser-known areas of the country.