A journey through epic Chinese history China, with its kung fu and tea, its sages and silk, has influenced gastronomy, trade, military strategy, aesthetics, and philosophy on a global scale for millennia. Chinese history is fascinatingly chaotic. It is rife with periods of prosperity and violent uprisings, with revolutionaries, establishment figures, dissenters, and significant personalities. But its women, from ancient warriors to twentieth-century suffragettes, have also shaped it decisively, while its ancient ghosts, administrative corruption, and discord continue to haunt today's People's Republic. With narrative skill and historical accuracy, Linda Jaivin offers the essence of this complex history: in a book that is enjoyable to read and contains everything you need to know, she reveals a country of astonishing variety, at the forefront of global developments. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK The revealing portrait of a superpower, from antiquity to modern dominance. Julia Lovell, Professor of History, London University Jaivin knows well how to highlight important details and turn an extremely unwieldy history into an absolutely informative and enjoyable read. The Sydney Morning Herald China's great history has found the narrator it needed. Stan Grant, author