![]() ![]() Through its characters Rutherfurd tries to present each event and different attempts at reform that sought to throw off the western imperialist yoke. The novel begins with events leading to the 1839 Opium War between England and the “Middle Kingdom” and carries the reader through Chinese history beginning with the Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, the Boxer Rebellion, and finally the 1911 Revolution. The novel does not present the scope and panorama of his earlier works, and there are a few questions about organization, but it still was a satisfying read. ![]() ![]() I was looking forward to his next effort which was published last week, CHINA: THE NOVEL. I dare say he was “Micheneresque!” Other novels soon followed RUSSKA, LONDON, THE FOREST, THE PRINCES OF IRELAND, THE REBELS OF IRELAND, NEW YORK, and PARIS – all very satisfying and engrossing living up to the bar he set with his first novel. ![]() In 1987 I read Rutherfurd’s first novel, SARUM which immediately sparked my interest because of his approach to writing, history, lineage of different generations, and an assortment of interesting and fascinating characters. When he passed a void resulted in my reading agenda until I discovered Edward Rutherfurd. His multi-generational plots, historical knowledge, all-encompassing detail, and character development were very satisfying, and I always looked forward to his latest release. For years I read the panoramic novels of James A. ![]()
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