A vivid collection of Chinese village tales and character sketches set during a pivotal era in Central China, told with warmth and keen eye for detail.
This edition presents a string of peach-stone charms—concrete stories drawn from life along the roads and rivers of China. It weaves together local folk-lore, historical moments, and intimate portraits to illuminate how Chinese life adapts under change. The journey covers bustling town life, the rhythms of farming, and the footnotes of a nation in transition, offering both entertainment and information.
- Interwoven tales that bring to life everyday moments, beliefs, and friendships.
- Photographs of village life, family ties, and community decisions during the Taiping era.
- Insights into Chinese customs, language, and the social fabric of Central China.
- An author's reflective voice that balances storytelling with historical context.
Ideal for readers drawn to historical fiction with a strong sense of place, culture, and character. If you enjoy vivid scenes of village life and moments that illuminate a country in flux, this edition will resonate.
Cornaby's work represents an important attempt to expand Western knowledge of central China in the late nineteenth century. Touching on folklore, topography, daily rituals and social norms as well as the devastating effects of the Taiping Rebellion, the Methodist missionary carefully documents Chinese society, focusing especially on a farming village.