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Title: America's First Adventure in China

Subtitle: Trade, Treaties, Opium, and Salvation

Author: John R. Haddad

Narrator: Kirk O. Winkler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-14

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

In 1784, when Americans first voyaged to China, they confronted Chinese authorities who were unaware that the United States even existed. Nevertheless, a long, complicated, and fruitful trade relationship was born after American traders, missionaries, diplomats, and others sailed to China with lofty ambitions: to acquire fabulous wealth, convert China to Christianity, and even command a Chinese army. In America's First Adventure in China, John Haddad provides a colourful history of the evolving cultural exchange and interactions between these countries. He recounts how American expatriates adopted a pragmatic attitude - as well as an entrepreneurial spirit and improvisational approach - to their dealings with the Chinese. Haddad shows how opium played a potent role in the dreams of Americans who either smuggled it or opposed its importation, and he considers the missionary movement that compelled individuals to accept a hard life in an alien culture. As a result of their efforts, Americans achieved a favourable outcome - they established a unique presence in China - and cultivated a relationship whose complexities continue to grow. John Haddad is an Associate Professor of American Studies and Popular Culture at Penn State Harrisburg. He was awarded the Gutenberg-e Prize in 2002 for his dissertation, which was published as The Romance of China: Excursions to China in U.S. Culture, 1776-1876.

Critic Reviews:

"John Haddad has written a subtle and spirited book, which takes America's first experiences in China as a means to explore the early years of the United States as an independent nation... It is an absorbing tale, with many contemporary echoes." (Jonathan Spence, author of The Search for Modern China)

A well written, succinct, and elegant book. Haddad brings a fresh approach to-and makes a convincing case for his characterization of-the American presence in China." (Peter Buck, Senior Lecturer (retired) on the History of Science, Harvard University)

Members Reviews:

Solid research, clear writing, and novel perspective

What a pleasure it is to read this book, which not only supplements but improves the tone of current US-China studies. Haddad's archival research is the firm foundation for the entire project. His prose is naturally graceful and unaffected. His startling insight is that there were major differences between the American and European -- especially British -- experiences in China, dating from the late 18th Century, and the Chinese were quickly aware of these. Thus, foreigners were not some homogenous band in the eyes of their hosts. American voyagers were not simply pawns moved around the globe by some impersonal historical force like 'imperialism.' Instead, they were a varied set of colorful individuals with differing motivations. Of course profit and power played a big part in their quests, but so too did imagination: they had dreams of China which, while often subjective or inaccurate, prompted them to make a global trek. They fervently believed that Cathay was a magical place where they could find what they were seeking. The biographical sketches of these explorers/entrepreneurs/adventurers/idealists/opportunists make each one come alive.