The other thing I brought home...

[desperance]

...with the potatoes and the idea for a story? Was the perfect general Chinese history/culture/art/technology synthesis that I so exactly needed for my research. For my book.

Yes, the one I finished two days ago.

Le sigh.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Umm, is this synthesis in your head or in book form (because if the latter, author and title, plese. Pretty please.)? When not obsessing over musketeers, I'm a Sinophile and a girl can never have too many books on China.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Is a book! Is called "China", edited by Edward L Shaughnessy, published in the UK by Duncan Baird Publishers, revised edition 2005.

Blurb:

"'China' is the authoritative and accessible guide to one of the world's most remarkable civilisations. This major work of scholarship explores the major themes of Chinese history and culture over the last four thousand years, from the dawn of antiquity to the end of the imperial era. This superbly illustrated title offers a vivid portrait of this fascinating culture, from the court of the emperor to the traditions of Daoism and Confucianism, bringing depth and clarity to key aspects of China's historical, religious, philosophical and artistic heritage."

Think how useful that would've been, a few years back? Of course you can never have too many books, and I would not now trade in my many shelves'-worth; but to have a general overview - and it does look good - at the start of the process, rather than the end...

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Thank you. Will go and hunt it down: that's one I don't have. Another good one, if you don't already know it is Jacques Gernet, A History of Chinese Civilization (2nd ed.).

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Where are you in the world? I only ask because I could pick you up a copy for five of our British pounds, plus shipping - but if you're anywhere in the dollarverse, then shipping could be expensive and our British pounds certainly would be, and it might be cheaper to hunt it down through your regular outlets. But at the moment, there's a couple of extra copies in the shop, and it is a pretty thing, if superficial (250 pages, with most subjects - "Justice and Law", "The Confucian Canon" - dealt with in two apiece...).

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That is very kind -- I'm in Cambridge (the one near Peterborough, Cambs, not the one just outside Boston, Mass). However, I found it on Amazon and have ordered it (I'm a historian by profession, though not a Sinologist, so when it comes to history books, I will just click on that button...). Thank you for the offer, though: much appreciated.
Kari