The China Mirage, James Bradley
The China Mirage, James Bradley
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The China Mirage
The Hidden History of American Disaster in Asia

Author: James Bradley

Narrator: Pete Larkin

Unabridged: 12 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/21/2015

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Flags of our Fathers, Flyboys, and The Imperial Cruise, a spellbinding history of turbulent U.S.-China relations from the 19th century to World War II and Mao's ascent.

In each of his books, James Bradley has exposed the hidden truths behind America's engagement in Asia. Now comes his most engrossing work yet. Beginning in the 1850s, Bradley introduces us to the prominent Americans who made their fortunes in the China opium trade. As they -- -good Christians all -- -profitably addicted millions, American missionaries arrived, promising salvation for those who adopted Western ways.

And that was just the beginning.

From drug dealer Warren Delano to his grandson Franklin Delano Roosevelt, from the port of Hong Kong to the towers of Princeton University, from the era of Appomattox to the age of the A-Bomb, The China Mirage explores a difficult century that defines U.S.-Chinese relations to this day.

About James Bradley

James Bradley is a writer and critic. His books include the novels Wrack, The Deep Field, The Resurrectionist, Clade, and Ghost Species; a book of poetry, Paper Nautilus; and The Penguin Book of the Ocean. Alongside his books, James has an established career as an essayist and reviewer, whose work has appeared in many publications, including The Guardian, The Monthly, Sydney Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement, Meanjin, and Griffith Review. His fiction has won or been shortlisted for a wide range of Australian and international literary awards, and his essays and articles have been shortlisted twice for the Bragg Prize for Science Writing and nominated for a Walkley Award. In 2012, he won the Pascall Award for Australia’s Critic of the Year. He is currently an Honorary Associate at the Sydney Environment Centre at the University of Sydney. 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Mal on April 06, 2017

One of the conspiracy theories popular on the Far Right is that Franklin D. Roosevelt engineered the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to ensnare the US in World War II. Like so many Right-Wing fantasies, this story is nearly 180 degrees distant from the truth. (OK, many Left-Wing fantasies are, too.)......more

Goodreads review by Ralphz on March 01, 2019

Coming in, I wanted to really like this book. I was unsuccessful. The China Mirage (get used to that term, Bradley uses it a lot) is pretty close to a screed. Bradley documents U.S. fascination with China, and implies that if not for that, World War II with Japan would not have been fought. Never min......more

Goodreads review by Jane on March 17, 2016

I've long placed Chiang Kai Shek--along with Mao and Cixi--as the incompetent triumvirate that made China the mess it is today; I've also long been confounded by Taiwanese and Americans who fail to recognize Chiang for the damn fool he was. After reading this book, that disconnect finally makes sens......more

Goodreads review by Craig on November 05, 2015

I was fascinated by the author's observation that every US failure of policy in China, the Pacific or Asia was rooted in the Harvard-educated advisor sitting at the presidents elbow. That's quite a track record. Still, this book is replete with so many historical errors that I have to question eithe......more

Goodreads review by Marshall on July 26, 2015

There should be a warning placed on all government buildings urging US policy makers to stop trying to export the American way of life elsewhere. This practice, responsible for some of worst policy failures in this and previous century inevitably leads to failure. Iraq, Afghanistan, Southeast Asia,......more

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