THE TERRACOTTA ARMY: CHINA'S FIRST EMPEROR AND THE BIRTH OF A NATION.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,4th imp..[Complete number line 4 6 8 10 9 7 5,so 1st edn,4th imp.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt monochrome photographic illustrated dw/dj with glossy grey lettered author name,4-colour white,grey,pale blue and beige) shaded,capitalised title and other white lettered sub-title to front panel of dw/dj,similarly coloured,glossy lettered spine/ backstrip,rear panel with a single critic's blue+white lettered review. Top+fore-edges brigth and clean without blemish or foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips - appears unread,other than my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean and unblemished, sharp-cornered original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp, blocked gilt lettered spine/backstrip a b/w striped headband and immaculate plain maroon endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,4th imp,xiiipp+3-288pp [paginated] includes picture acknowledgements, Pts 1-3 comprising Origins,Beyond The Grave,and The Eighth Wonder,containing 6,5 and 4 chapters respectively,each chapter with b/w line illustrated kneeling Chinese figure headpiece,32pp colour photogrpahs in 2 blocks of 16pp apiece,between pp80/81 and pp192/93 respectively,3 b/w region/environs maps interspersed within the text,Appendices (1+2),a 5pp bibliography and an Index.Plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,contents list/table,separate maps, note on spellings and acknowledgements pages,a Preface,and individual Pts separator pages. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional,and even internally, the book is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of it's age. It really is an exceptional copy for its cleanliness and brightness.

In 1974 local farmers digging a well near present day Xian unearthed parts of clay figures,opening the way to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.The Terracotta Army was a total surprise.The 6,000 life-size clay warriors and horses had been buried in 210BC as a 'spirit army' to stand watch over the body of the First Emperor,and had been lying hidden for over two millennia. The army is a fitting guard for one of China's greatest and most controversial figures.From his base in the state of Qin,the First Emperor conquered all rivals,unifying them into a single nation and defending it with the Great Wall.An inspired and ruthless ruler,he was also beset by paranoia and a desire to dominate in the afterlife,as he had in this world.Around his giant tomb-mound,as yet unopened (then 2007),other chambers conceal a whole spirit world not only of more soldiers,but of officials,bronze chariots,water-birds and entertainers.
Much of this now stands revealed in a site that attracts some two million visitors a year.As work continues,there are surely more surprises to come,possibly (as John Man suggests) even more warriors still to be discovered.One day,perhaps,,the tomb-mound itself will be opened and its legendary treasures revealed.Research has already suggested the existence of an underground palace and revealed traces of mercury,which,according to the main historical source,trace China's rivers in a vast map of the First Emperor's domains. Weaving together history and first-hand experience from his travels in China,John Man tells the story of how and why these astonishing artefacts were created.In doing so,he gives a vivid account of the First Emperor and the events that form the roots of China today.
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