Quick plug to my old chum Paul French’s latest book called Through the Looking Glass – China’s Foreign Journalists from Opium Wars to Mao. Paul, the Old China Hands’ Old China Hand, examines the convulsive history of the old China press corps from the first newspapers printed in the European Factories of Canton in the 1820s through the 120 years of change, war, convulsion and revolution that led up to 1949. The story starts with a Sunday afternoon sword wielding duel between two editors over the opium trade and ends with a fistfight in a Shanghai jail over how to report Mao’s revolution.
Like journalists everywhere, the old China press corps took sides and brought their own assumptions and prejudices with them but a fair number also brought their personal hopes, dreams and fears along too. They certainly weren’t infallible; they got the story completely wrong as often as they got it partially right. Most did their jobs professionally, some passionately and a select few with rare flair and touches of genius. They were all too often flamboyant and gregarious characters; sometimes dodgy and dishonest; sometimes obsessive and manic. More than a few were drunks, philanderers and frauds and inevitably there was the occasional spy. They changed sides, they lost their impartiality, they displayed bias and a few were downright scoundrels and liars of the first order. But they were never anything less than fascinating.
You can catch Paul around the region. He’s normally funny, occasionally abrasive and worth listening to. Here are his book tour dates.
Sunday June 7 – Book Launch – The Glamour Bar
Through the Looking Glass – China’s Foreign Journalists from Opium Wars to Mao
The Glamour Bar
6/F, No. 5 The Bund (corner Guangdong Road)
4pm
RMB 65, includes a drink
To book: 6350-9988 or reservations@m-onthebund.comwww.m-restaurantgroup.com
Suzhou
Monday June 8 – The Suzhou Bookworm
Through the Looking Glass – China’s Foreign Journalists from Opium Wars to Mao
The Suzhou Bookworm
Gunxiufang 77, Shiquan Road, Suzhou
7.30pm
RMB30, includes a drink
http://www.suzhoubookworm.com/
Beijing
Tuesday June 16 – The Beijing Bookworm
Through the Looking Glass – China’s Foreign Journalists from Opium Wars to Mao
The Beijing Bookworm
Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
7.30pm
RMB20 (members); RMB30 (non-members)
http://www.beijingbookworm.com/index.php
Wednesday June 17 – The Bookworm at the Yin Yang Community Centre
“Girl Reporters” in China
The Bookworm at the Yin Yang Community Centre
The First Courtyard, Hegezhuang Village, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel.: 6431.2108
Email: contact@yinyangbeijing.com
Thursday June 18 – The China Foreign Correspondents’ Club
Through the Looking Glass – China’s Foreign Journalists from Opium Wars to Mao
http://www.fccchina.org/
Hong Kong
Monday June 22 – Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club
Through the Looking Glass – China’s Foreign Journalists from Opium Wars to Mao
HK FCC, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
Time: 11.15
Tel: 852 2521 1511
http://www.fcchk.org/
And for us up here in lovely Dalian, he’s coming to the Brooklyn Bar probably in the first week of July.
