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A Journey to the East: Li Gui's A New Account of a Trip Around the Globe
A Journey to the East Li Gui's A New Account of a Trip Around the Globe Author:Charles A. Desnoyers A representative to the U.S. Centennial in Philadelphia, Li Gui went on to style himself as the first Chinese official to circle the globe, and his travel diary offers a fascinating window into the Chinese view of the West in the late nineteenth century. A Journey to the East is the first full-length English translation of this landmark excursio... more »n.
Li Gui's experiences traveling through the U.S. offer a unique perspective on the newest technological and urban developments of the day in Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., and other major U.S. cities. In his day, these observations on Japan, the U.S., Great Britain, France, and their colonial possessions helped the Chinese government construct a more accurate picture of imperial power and statecraft abroad. Later, the diary became required reading for reformers and revolutionaries from Li Hongzhang to Mao Zedong.
A welcome addition to primary source material on this time period, Desnoyers's translation will interest not only China specialists but also scholars in Asian studies, American history, and world history.
Charles Desnoyers is Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of History and Director of Asian Studies at La Salle University.« less