Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Get a readers' conceptualisation of China by Europeans over the last 800 years. With annotated excerpts of their key China related writings by influential figures such as Voltaire, Ricci, Leibniz, Montesquieu, Marx, Weber, Hegel, Barthes and Kristeva, this collection brings together the visions and ideas of individuals who had a unique impact upon European culture. The views within range wildly as the authors wrestle with what sense to make of China's cultural and social difference to their lives in the West, conceptualising China as a place of threat, otherness, exoticism, but also inspiration.
This important selection shows that contemporary European attitudes towards China have deep roots. With an extensive introduction, full bibliography and widespread annotations on original texts, this book will be of interest to anyone interested in how the crucial relationship between China and Europe developed over time.
Kerry Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He has authored almost 20 books on modern Chinese politics, written for every major international news outlet, and been interviewed by every major news channel on issues relating to contemporary China.
Get a readers' conceptualisation of China by Europeans over the last 800 years. With annotated excerpts of their key China related writings by influential figures such as Voltaire, Ricci, Leibniz, Montesquieu, Marx, Weber, Hegel, Barthes and Kristeva, this collection brings together the visions and ideas of individuals who had a unique impact upon European culture. The views within range wildly as the authors wrestle with what sense to make of China's cultural and social difference to their lives in the West, conceptualising China as a place of threat, otherness, exoticism, but also inspiration.
This important selection shows that contemporary European attitudes towards China have deep roots. With an extensive introduction, full bibliography and widespread annotations on original texts, this book will be of interest to anyone interested in how the crucial relationship between China and Europe developed over time.
Kerry Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London. He has authored almost 20 books on modern Chinese politics, written for every major international news outlet, and been interviewed by every major news channel on issues relating to contemporary China.
