China

The Novel

By: Edward Rutherfurd

Narrated by: Daniel York Loh, Zheng Xi Yong, Andrew Wincott

Length: 34 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The “unparalleled master of the historical saga" (Newsweek) and internationally best-selling author of Paris and New York takes on an exhilarating new world with his trademark epic style in China: The Novel.

Edward Rutherfurd has enthralled millions of people with his grand, sweeping historical sagas that tell the history of a famous place over multiple generations. Now, in China: The Novel, Rutherfurd takes listeners into the rich and fascinating milieu of the Middle Kingdom.

The story begins in 1839, at the dawn of the First Opium War, and follows Chinese history through Mao's Cultural Revolution and up to the present day. Rutherfurd chronicles the rising and falling fortunes of members of Chinese, British, and American families, as they negotiate the tides of history. Along the way, in his signature style, Rutherfurd provides a deeply researched portrait of Chinese history and society, its ancient traditions and great upheavals, and China's emergence as a rising global power. As always, we are treated to romance and adventure, heroines and scoundrels, grinding struggle and incredible fortunes.

China: The Novel brings to life the rich terrain of this vast and constantly evolving country. From Shanghai to Nanking to the Great Wall, Rutherfurd chronicles the turbulent rise and fall of empires as the colonial West meets the opulent and complex East in a dramatic struggle between cultures and people.

Extraordinarily researched and majestically told, Edward Rutherfurd paints a thrilling portrait of one of the most singular and remarkable countries in the world. 

©2021 Edward Rutherfurd (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Bravo; this is a big, complex, and utterly involving portrait of 19th-century China." (Antonia Senior, The Times, London)

"It’s a bravura performance, fizzing with incident, excitement and energy." (The Daily Mail)  

“Edward Rutherfurd is known for massive historical novels usually set in cities like New York, Paris and London. They dig deeply into a specific place and he focuses on a certain period.... Rutherfurd’s thorough research shows again here in his descriptions of China and other places in Asia like Hong Kong and Macao.... Besides place, Rutherfurd also has thoroughly researched the many complexities of Chinese culture.... CHINA can perhaps be placed in the same basket as the James Clavell novels of Tai-Pan and Noble House.... Worth sticking with all 760 pages." (Asian Review of Books) 

Fascinating. A revealing glimpse into China's hist

This marvelous historical novels was narrated with a strong voice that carried you into a unique perspective of China. The main character, LacquerNail, carried a wonderful ability to describe the world around him. the detailed descriptions of the world of China during this novel was truly fascinating.

The complete book was excellent.

Edward Rutherford is such a good historian and story teller that my next read by him will be his two novels about the history of Ireland. Sincerely, Sharon LaMothe

overall it was great

I had a hard time following all the characters at the beginning of the book. There were several and it would be a long time till we came back to them but after a while I remembered who everybody was.

the view of the history

The book is interesting, and includes every side of the history, the writer is a good historian and a good writer.I love this book

Wonderful - Don't miss it

A truly wonderful book. Well researched and beautifully written, the novel is historically significance. Edward Rutherfurd is one of my favorite writers. I have never been disappointed in any of his books. Entertaining and enlightening at the same time - do not miss it.

Good Read

I found this interesting culturally and a good story. Enjoyable. I recommend it to you.

Very Entertaining and Educational

The book covers the period from the beginning of the Opium Wars to somewhere in the beginning of Pu Yi’s ascendancy. It’s a very short period in an immense history but probably the one Westerners most need to know and don’t.

Like most of Rutherfurd’s books it’s rather difficult to put down. Even if you do, you’ll likely return to it pretty soon to hear how the stories end. They tend to be rather absorbing. At the same time he takes you through tremendous historical events and shows you how they appeared to the average person. One thing I love is how he rarely allows his central characters to be extremely virtuous or extremely evil. They generally strive to do good, but succumb to temptations along the way.

The narrators were good but one of them had a halting way of speaking that got in the way.

interesting Historical Fiction

Loved it! Fascinating history of China entering modernty. A must audible story. Time well spent.

Perfect

Another Rutherford gem. Enjoyed the narrators. Definitely an education. Great exposure. Doesn't go across generations like other Rutherford novels-- just different lens into an important bracket of history.

Fabulous historian and storyteller. Thoroughly captivating.

The author is a fabulous historian and storyteller. He is thoroughly captivating. He is one of my favorite authors.