The Great Wall: The Extraordinary Story of China s Wonder of the World - Softcover

Man, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0306818396 ISBN 13: 9780306818394

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 2009

Synopsis

It is a wonder of the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists journey to the Great Wall of China, and a myriad of photographs have made it familiar to millions more. Yet its story remains mysterious and steeped in myth.

In this riveting account, John Man travels the entire length of the Great Wall and across two millennia to find the truth behind the legend. Along the way, he delves into the remarkable and complex history of China—from the country's tribal past through its war with the Mongols to its present-day status as a resurgent superpower.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The Great Wall of China is a wonder of the world. Hundreds of thousands of tourists every year make the five-mile journey from Beijing to climb its battlements. It is instantly familiar to millions more from the myriad photographs of this extraordinary landmark. But what do we really know about the Great Wall?

Many myths surround it - for example, that it is visible from space. Not true: it cannot even be seen from earth orbit. Estimates of its length vary from 1,500 to 5,000 miles. Even its name is deceptive – it is not in fact a single entity, but many walls (hence the uncertain length), most of which are built not of stone but of earth. Different sections were built by different states and were first joined together in the third century BC, to counter the threat from nomadic barbarians from the north – a threat that was to menace China’s borders for almost 2,000 years.

In this riveting history John Man travels the entire length of the Great Wall and across over two millennia. In so doing, he finds a fascinating way into China’s remarkable and complex history, taking us from the country’s tribal past, through the war with the Mongols, right up to the modern day, when the Great Wall is once more a powerful emblem of the resurgent superpower.

About the Author:

John Man is a historian and travel writer with a special interest in China and Mongolia whose list of acclaimed books includes Genghis Khan. He lives in the United Kingdom.

About this edition

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0306818396
• ISBN 13: 9780306818394
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384