A review by gerbilreads
China, by Edward Rutherfurd
4.0
A very different endeavour from his usual style, in that the book focuses on a single generation. If I had to criticise, I would say that Rutherfurd has a light hand when designing characters, which works well when they are only around for a chapter or two, but makes the characters here feel a little flat.
But who cares, this book was wonderful, full of insight and the meticulous historical work Rutherfurd is routinely admired for. He has a fantastic ability to be utterly even-handed, impressive considering what profound shits the British are (specifically during the opium wars, here). And yet you DO care for the British characters all the same and route for them. Ditto the Chinese.
But who cares, this book was wonderful, full of insight and the meticulous historical work Rutherfurd is routinely admired for. He has a fantastic ability to be utterly even-handed, impressive considering what profound shits the British are (specifically during the opium wars, here). And yet you DO care for the British characters all the same and route for them. Ditto the Chinese.