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America Through the Spectacles of an Oriental Diplomat

America Through the Spectacles of an Oriental Diplomat

Wu Tingfang | Jonathan Spence

(2007)

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Book Details

Abstract

A beguiling account of twentieth-century America through the eyes of an outsider, a remarkable inversion of the standard 'Westerner observing the exotic' travel writing formula. Wu Tingfang wrote this book at an intriguing juncture in history - aeroplanes and motion pictures had recently been invented, and while he did not know it, a tremendous cultural shift was about to take place in the West due to the First World War. His observations are enlightening and remain as relevant today as the era in which they were written.


Wu Tingfang (1842-1922) was a Chinese diplomat and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and briefly as Acting Premier during the early years of the Republic of China.

Jonathan Spence teaches in the field of Chinese history from around 1600 to the present and on Western images of China since the middle ages at Yale University.


A beguiling account of twentieth-century America through the eyes of an outsider, a remarkable inversion of the standard 'Westerner observing the exotic' travel writing formula. Wu Tingfang wrote this book at an intriguing juncture in history - aeroplanes and motion pictures had recently been invented (and his musings on both of these have proven correct) and while he did not know it, a tremendous cultural shift was about to take place in the West due to the First World War. The unassuming and inquisitive diplomat delves into topics such as: immigration; the Arms Race and changes in technology; religion and ethics in the classroom; women's equality; fashion; violence in the theatre; vegetarianism; and cruelty to animals. His observations are enlightening and remain as relevant today as the era in which they were written. In particular, the exploration of the 'American character' and the nation's attitude toward commerce and international relations have a powerful resonance.


Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Front Matter 1
Half Title 1
Anthem Travel Classics 2
Main Title 3
Copyright 4
Content 5
List of Illustrations 7
Introduction: Jonathan Spence 9
Preface 13
Main Matter 17
Chapter 1: The Importance of Names 17
Chapter 2: American Prosperity 25
Chapter 3: American Government 31
Chapter 4: America and China 41
Chapter 5: American Education 49
Chapter 6: American Business Methods 57
Chapter 7: American Freedom and Equality 65
Chapter 8: American Manners 75
Chapter 9: American Women 85
Chapter 10: American Costumes 93
Chapter 11: American veersus Chinese Civilization 101
Chapter 12: American versus Chinese Civilization (continued) 113
Chapter 13: Dinners, Banquets, etc. 131
Chapter 14: Theaters 147
Chapter 15: Opera and Musical Entertainments 157
Chapter 16: Conjuring and Circuses 163
Chapter 17: Sports 167
End Matter 174
Author Photograph 174