An Australian in China: Being the Narrative of a Quiet Journey Across China to British Burma

by George Ernest Morrison

Describing a journey across China to Burma, this vivid and precise account follows Australian-born foreign correspondent George Morrison on his travels beginning in 1894. Dressed in Chinese garb and engaging guides and servants as needed, Morrison traveled by riverboat, sedan chair, mule, pony, and, mostly, on foot. A gripping adventure tale, this recollection offers an early foreign description of the Chinese interior.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History, China

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1895

Reviews

[Ladywinkfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everyone’s cup of tea but I was doing some research about this period in Chinese history and George Morrison was there and writing for The London Times from Peking. If you don’t know anything about this man make the effort, he was quite the adventurer, almost superhuman observant, smart, and eloquent.

This book is just a sliver of his story and I was expecting a dull read. But it wasn’t. At all. Written in 1894 it provides a fascinating insight into a pre-industrial China exploited and indoctrinated by foreigners and on the verge of biting back.

[Wolfgang Schulz]

An informative account of life in China during the turn of the 20th century by a Times reporter. Even though highly educated as a medical doctor who achieved amazing feats of endurance walking great distances he is unable to reach the essence of what it means to be Chinese. Despite the fact that he resided in China for years he never bothered to learn the language. This reflects his feelings of superiority as a British subject and greatly limits his understanding and perception.

[Jay Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

时常感叹百年前西方传教士的坚韧。如莫理循所言，中国是当时传教最困难的国家。莫在中国西南游历，所到之处满目苍凉，到处都是罂粟。他记录当时底层人的辛酸，对这个国家充满好奇。不过他也以大英帝国子民为傲，文中轻易可见轻浮和优越感。翻译很辛苦，也很用心。

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a couple of travels across China written by women, it was interesting to read a similar story from a man's perspective. Morrison is no less astute, but definitely has a man's take on things. He traveled across before either Mrs. Bird or Ms. Kendall, but his experience was very similar. He found the Chinese to be very hard-working and, for the most part, accepting of him, only facing cries of "foreign devil" on a couple of occasions. Very readable and interesting look at China at the end of the 19th century.

[Ryo · Rating 4 out of 5]

观察虽有局限却提供了一种另类的历史切面：中国人痛感迟钝，甚至在低等动物的痛苦面前表现出冷漠；“他们吃最少的食物，干最繁重的活，潜力惊人，却始终不向前看。”“咣咣当当的乐器声使白昼变得讨厌，中国人迟钝的感官被误导得以为这就是美妙的音乐。”“中国在未来不久将开始陷入麻烦，严重的麻烦，因为目前统治着中国的衰败的外族王朝——满清王朝——将被推翻，将有一个汉人皇帝登临中国的王位，这一刻很快就会临近。”，对专制体制改朝换代和显性的民族矛盾都有明确感知

[Peter Macinnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read by a marvellously eccentric and clever man.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story of experiences before Lonely Planet in a time when various foreign invaders began jockeying for power in North East Asia.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting and readable