A fascinating work of history, biography, cartography, and literary mystery, Mr Selden’s Map of China unlocks the secrets behind a recently discovered map of China like no other of its time.In 1659, a vast and unusual map of China arrived in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. It was bequeathed by John Selden, a London business lawyer, political activist, former convict, MP, and the city’s first Orientalist scholar. Largely ignored, it remained in the bowels of the library, unti...

In 221 BC, the First Emperor of Qin unified the lands that would become the heart of a Chinese empire. Though forged by conquest, this vast domain depended for its political survival on a fundamental reshaping of Chinese culture. With this informative book, we are present at the creation of an ancient imperial order whose major features would endure for two millennia.The Qin and Han constitute the “classical period” of Chinese history—a role played by the Greeks and Romans in the W...

The author of Vermeer's Hat shares "a dizzying and exhilarating journey" through 800 years of Chinese history and national identity (New Statesman).China is one of the oldest states in the world. It achieved its approximate borders with the Ascendancy of the Yuan dynasty in the thirteenth century and has maintained them ever since—through the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Republic, the Occupation, and Communism. Yet China has never been alone in the world. I...

This practical guide is written for beginners who want a home that feels safer, calmer, and easier to manage without depending on a professional for every small task. It breaks a familiar problem into clear actions, explains what to check before starting, and keeps the focus on progress that can be seen and repeated. You do not need a workshop full of expensive equipment or years of experience. You need a sensible order of operations, realistic expectations, and a willingness to learn one ...

Goethe's 'Faust' is considered to be his Magnum Opus and one of the best works of German literature ever completed. It is a universal tale of belonging, love, despair and finding ones purpose.Faust is a man in anguish; having dedicated his life to the sciences, to understanding the world around him he now sees that he has learnt all that he can. He is distraught by the notion that he cannot be at one with the cosmic universe and attain the highest form of knowledge. Seeing this, Th...

In "Plish and Plum," Wilhelm Busch masterfully blends whimsy with insightful satire, presenting the adventures of two anthropomorphic characters'Äîa plump cat named Plish and a curious mouse named Plum. Set against a charmingly illustrated backdrop of rural life, this narrative employs Busch's signature witty verse and playful illustrations to not only entertain but also provoke contemplation regarding the age-old dynamics of predator and prey. The book captures the essence of 19th-century...

In "The Invisible Lodge," Jean Paul crafts a rich narrative that blends elements of fantasy and philosophical reflection, encapsulated within his signature whimsical and satirical prose. This work, published in the early 19th century, explores themes of imagination, the nature of reality, and the intricate interplay between the self and society. With its elaborate metaphors and playful language, the novel invites readers into a surreal world where the boundaries of perception blur, mirrori...

Goethe's *Faust; a Tragedy, Translated from the German of Goethe* presents the learned Faust's desperate wager with Mephistopheles, tracing his pursuit of limitless knowledge, sensual experience, and spiritual fulfillment. Combining philosophical drama, lyrical poetry, satire, romance, religious allegory, and elements of medieval legend, the work resists the conventions of a unified stage tragedy. Its shifting registers—from colloquial speech and popular song to learned allusion and vision...

In 'The Invisible Lodge,' Jean Paul masterfully weaves a tapestry of whimsical narratives and philosophical reflections that delves into the intricate relationship between the visible and invisible realms of existence. Set within a landscape rich with surrealism, the novel employs a playful yet poignant literary style marked by elaborate descriptions, paradoxical humor, and an introspective tone. The text is a pivotal work in the Romantic literary movement, exploring themes of transcendenc...

In a brisk revisionist history, William Rowe challenges the standard narrative of Qing China as a decadent, inward-looking state that failed to keep pace with the modern West.The Great Qing was the second major Chinese empire ruled by foreigners. Three strong Manchu emperors worked diligently to secure an alliance with the conquered Ming gentry, though many of their social edicts—especially the requirement that ethnic Han men wear queues—were fiercely resisted. As advocates of a “u...

The Tang dynasty is often called China’s “golden age,” a period of commercial, religious, and cultural connections from Korea and Japan to the Persian Gulf, and a time of unsurpassed literary creativity. Mark Lewis captures a dynamic era in which the empire reached its greatest geographical extent under Chinese rule, painting and ceramic arts flourished, women played a major role both as rulers and in the economy, and China produced its finest lyric poets in Wang Wei, Li Bo, and Du Fu....

Contemporary discussions of international relations in Asia tend to be tethered in the present, unmoored from the historical contexts that give them meaning. Sacred Mandates, edited by Timothy Brook, Michael van Walt van Praag, and Miek Boltjes, redresses this oversight by examining the complex history of inter-polity relations in Inner and East Asia from the thirteenth century to the twentieth, in order to help us understand and develop policies to address challenges in the regio...