Reviews

China by Edward Rutherfurd

jgoetz's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

natboyd's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

counthannahreadsalot's review against another edition

5.0

Wow. Admittedly, Chinese history is not one of my main areas of knowledge, but this seemed very historically accurate and incredibly thorough for a work of historical fiction. Rutherford does a great job of displaying the many sides and lives involved in the periods of china’s greatest conflicts with the colonial powers, and his fictional characters are well-developed and interesting. A great introduction into the opium wars and later conflicts within China, especially for those who might not know a lot.

iancmclaren's review against another edition

4.0

Another great read from Rutherfurd. I did enjoy the native Chinese storylines more than those involving the British, but overall an entertaining book.

margo415's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

christinavarela's review against another edition

1.0

I liked Paris by this author. This book not so much, it was slow and I never felt attached to any of the characters. Unfortunate because the history intertwined in the story is good.

perrymadeleine4's review against another edition

4.0

very interesting but it took me a year to finish

leemac027's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book. This is the first I've read of Edward Rutherfurd's epic historical fiction novels (tomes) and it was fascinating. The amount of research that he has undertaken was evident as the story unfolds from the 1830s moving into the Opium Wars with the British Empire.

There's lots of intrigue, affairs, bribery, battles, trade, culture, politics and all of this is encapsulated into the history of China between 1839 and the early 1900s - with references back thousands of years in time.

His characters are strong and you follow their lives and the impact China has on them throughout. I loved reading about Lacquer Nail - manicurist to the Emperor's concubine, a quite powerful and privileged (and dangerous) position, but that's not the destiny that was before him when he was born. It was guile and some cheek that got him there and led to the life he eventually made for himself and his family.

As the British had a huge impact on China in this period, characters such as the opium dealer John Trader, missionaries Charles and Henry Whiteparish and their wives give another aspect and view on Chinese history during this period.

I enjoyed every chapter and yes it is a long read at 761 pages but well worth the investment of your time.

birte's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

ellinlolis's review against another edition

3.0

Quite disappointing. Unlike his other works, this one covers less than a century. It also features many more battle scenes than his other books.