Tales of Old Peking
Earnshaw Books, the Hong Kong-based publisher specializing in Chinese history and culture, has announced the release of the second volume in its popular ‘Tales’ series, 'Tales of Old Peking'.
Following on from the publication last year of 'Tales of Old Shanghai', 'Tales of Old Peking' adopts the same quirky and innovative approach to history, weaving together a wide variety of material including first-hand accounts, postcards and cartoons to recreate a sense of old Beijing in a highly entertaining and easily digestible form.
“The Chinese capital was such a mixture of contradictions and misunderstandings between East and West,” said Derek Sandhaus, author of 'Tales of Old Peking'. “It was a flashpoint for conflicts, including the Boxer Rebellion, but it was also the heart of China's rich culture of 5,000 years."
The book gives highlights of the city's history from Marco Polo through to Chairman Mao, with extraordinary stories of diplomats and concubines, eunuchs and warlords.
More books in the Tales series will be coming soon, said Sandhaus, who was last month named as Chief Editor of earnshaw Books.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We believe that the ‘Tales’ books are a great introduction to some of the great cities of East Asia, and we are planning a full series, a counterpoint to the modern day guides that already exist for every city."
'Tales of Old Peking' is available online at Earnshawbooks.com and at selected bookstores in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.
About Derek Sandhaus: Derek was born in Overland Park, Kansas and studied philosophy at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Based out of Shanghai since 2006, he has a strong passion for Chinese history, having written pieces on the subject for magazines, blogs and podcasts. He has worked in various fields including education and public relations, and currently serves as Chief Editor/General Manager at Earnshaw Books.
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