The Middle Kingdom. A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its Inhabitants (two volumes)

Charles Scribner's Sons, New York Book. Fair. Hardcover. English text; Hardcover (cloth bound); 2.886 Kg; Two volumes, not bound equally. Volume I in blue cloth bound: 16 x 23.3 cm and Volume II in green cloth bound: 17 x 24 cm.; Volume I: Revised edition, 1901. 836 pages with black-and-white images. Used with signs of wear. Cracked hinge, but the binding is firmly attached. Pencil writing throughout. Minor crayon writing. Two loose pages with images. Previous owner writing on front free endpaper. Edgeworn.; Volume I: 775 pages with black-and-white images. Revised edition, 1907. Used book with signs on wear on the front, spine and back cover. Minor tear on the top of the first pages. Previous owner writing on front free endpaper. Incudes loose map: The Chinese Empire, compiled from Native and Foreign Authorities by S. Wells William, revised and compared with the most recent surveys by Jacob Wells.; Good readable copies.; This two-volume book is among the most important books by Samuel Wells Williams, surveying the vast empire that was China in 1901, and covering almost every aspect of Chinese life, its people and its customs, such as geography, foreign relations, literature, education, cultural habits, religion, trade, artistic productions, architecture and history. The author, who was a missionary in China for forty-three years, provides an invaluable 19th century insight into the Chinese empire, which contributes immensely to the understanding of the importance of the Middle Kingdom not only in the turn of the century, but also as of today. This compelling and informative book also includes a large number of engravings, illustrating the customs of China, its people, its animals, its places, and ends with an index, which always helps those readers who look for specific themes..