Great Reversal Britain China and the 400-Year Contest for Power

This is a new book. Condition: Brand New.

A vivid history of the relationship between Britain and China, from 1600 to the present

The relationship between Britain and China has shaped the modern world. Chinese art, philosophy and science have had a profound effect upon British culture, while the long history of British exploitation is still bitterly remembered in China today. But how has their interaction changed over time?

From the early days of the East India Company through the violence of the Opium Wars to present-day disputes over Hong Kong, Kerry Brown charts this turbulent and intriguing relationship in full. Britain has always sought to dominate China economically and politically, while China's ideas and exports-from tea and Chinoiserie to porcelain and silk-have continued to fascinate in the west. But by the later twentieth century, the balance of power began to shift in China's favour, with global consequences. Brown shows how these interactions changed the world order-and argues that an understanding of Britain's relationship with China is now more vital than ever.

Book details and technical specifications

Format: Paperback / softback
ISBN13: 9780300284935
Published: September 2025

Number of pages: 416
Width: 127 mm
Height: 197 mm
Depth: not specified

Publisher: Yale University Press