The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection

by Pei-kai Cheng (Editor), Michael Lestz, Janet Chen

The new edition of this outstanding documents collection displays a stronger blend of social history pieces reflecting everyday life, family, social networks, and culture and political history critical proclamations, treaties, laws, and other public acts. Many of the documents are translated into English for the first time and available only in this book.

Informative headnotes accompany the selections, providing context and helping students with unfamiliar names, places, and events. This collection is the perfect source for a firsthand look at modern Chinese history. "

Genres: History, China, Reference, Nonfiction, Textbooks

625 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Isiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to school textbooks I hope the rest of mine are like this book. It's very informative, enjoyable an gives a solid second hand perspective on early 20th century China and how the country we know now became to be.

Will not fully covering each event to the best of its abilities it still gives you a great overview of the whole picture of what was going on in China and why. Which I found perfect as I was able to broaden my knowledge and understanding of the current events and if I wanted specific perspectives on different events I have a Launchpad of what era I need to start from to go do that research

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Textbook for a course on Modern Chinese history, focusing on the question "is China modern?". Spence asks this question time and again. Through supplying ample historical and textual evidence, he forces the reader to come up with an answer - one that is never completely a yes or no, for each of the different stages he explores in this work. Also, the professor teaching the course could have something to do with this feeling.

[Angelina Lambros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides a great collection of primary source documents from 20th century Chinese history, with brief introductions to each document. Very informative book for those interested in studying actual documents from the place and time period.

[Leah McCarron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Qiu Jin >>>>>

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book complements Spence's Search for Modern China quite well.