The Cambridge History of China: Volume 12, Republican China, 1912-1949, Part 1

This volume is an important addition to any library for those who are serious students of Chinese History. The writing, as with all volumes in this series, is extremely dry and monotonous. Thus, unless one is heavily invested in such histories, it would not provide interesting reading. The most serious gaff, however, is the editors continued use of Wade-Giles for Chinese language and name translation. There is no excuse for this. Anyone who is serious enough to read these volumes would have to have made the transition to Pinyin some time ago. That the editors refuse to adapt might be an indication of their own biases. If the writing were more entertaining (- one star) and if the editors had used Pinyin (- one star), the book could have reached a five-star rating. "The Cambridge History of China is the largest and most comprehensive history of China in the English language. Planned in the 1960s by the late, distinguished China scholar Professor John K. Fairbank of Harvard, and Denis Twitchett, Professor Emeritus of Princeton, the series covers the grand scale of Chinese history from the 3rd century BC, to the death of Mao Tse-tung. Consisting of fifteen volumes (two of which, Volumes 5 and 9 are to be published in two books), the history embodies both existing scholarship and extensive original research into hitherto neglected subjects and periods. The contributors, all specialists from the international community of Sinologists, cover the main developments in political, social, economic and intellectual life of China in their respective periods. Collectively they present the major events in a long history that encompasses both a very old civilisation and a great modern power. Written not only for students and scholars, but with the general reader in mind, the volumes are designed to be read continuously, or as works of reference. No knowledge of Chinese is necessary; for readers with Chinese, proper names and terms are identified with their characters in the glossary, and full references to Chinese, Japanese, and other works are given in the bibliographies. Numerous maps illustrate the texts. The published volumes have constituted essential reading in Chinese history. See also, The Cambridge History of Ancient China, Michael Loewe and Edward Shaughnessy, eds., a companion to this series covering the period 1500 to 221 BC. General Editors: John K. Fairbank, Denis Twitchett." -- Provided by publisher This is the first of two volumes of this authoritative Cambridge history which review the Republican period, between the demise of imperial China and the establishment of the People's Republic. These years from 1912 to 1949 were marked by civil war, revolution and invasion; but also by change and growth in the economic, social, intellectual and cultural spheres. The chapters in this volume represent new syntheses by leading scholars concerned with Republican China. They examine economic trends in the period and the rise of the new middle class. Intellectual trends are surveyed to show the changes in traditional Chinese values and the foreign influences which played a major role in Republican China. Political development and events are traced until 1928; and the second, companion volume will complete the historical coverage. An introduction by John K. Fairbank placed the period in the context of international trade and influence. Although it is written by specialists, the goals and approach of this Cambridge history are to explain and discuss republican China for an audience which will include scholars, students and general readers who do not have special knowledge of Chinese history. It will be useful both as narrative history and as a reference source on the history and politics of China. The 37 years from 1912 to 1949 are known as the period of the Chinese Republic in order to distinguish them from the periods of more stable central government which came before and after. International scholars and sinologists discuss culture, economic growth, social change, political processes, and foreign influences in China since the earliest pre-dynastic period