In Search of Old Peking Book

Largely the result of the neglect and vandalism that accompanied the end of the Manchu dynasty in 1911, and of Mao Zedong's vision of a "New China" three decades later, Beijing today boasts all the ills of an overcrowded, polluted, and inefficient Third World metropolis. All that remains of the imposing walls that once enclosed an enchanting city are two gates, and the princely mansions that dotted the city have either been demolished or taken over by the communist gentry. In Search of Old Peking is a lament for a bygone era in Chinese history. Written in 1935 by L.C. Arlington, an American who had served in the Customs and Postal Administrations since his arrival in China in 1879, and William Lewisohn, A British Army officer turned journalist, this book is a labor of love, the result of the authors' determination to record the delights, both great and small, of the city that had captured their imaginations, even as it was beginning its decline. The descriptions of buildings and monuments, gardens public spaces are set in the wider context of Chinese history, and are enhanced by lively anecdotes of Chinese life. In addition, a wealth of photographs, linecuts, and maps further bring to life the Forbidden City at the height of its glory.Read More