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Opium, Soldiers and Evangelicals

England's 1840-42 War with China and its Aftermath

  • Book
  • © 2004

Overview

Authors:
  1. Harry G. Gelber

    1. London School of Economics, UK

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Mission to Canton

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 1-18

  3. Palmerston’s England, the World and China

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 19-39

  4. It’s More Than Trade, Stupid! Canton 1835–38

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 40-59

  5. The British and Commissioner Lin 1839

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 60-79

  6. London Debates 1839–40

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 80-101

  7. Fighting and Talking: Elliot 1840–41

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 102-124

  8. The Yangzi Campaign: Pottinger 1841–42

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 125-146

  9. Almost a Settlement

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 147-159

  10. Clashes Continue: Britain and China after the War

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 160-186

  11. China: Resentment Congeals into Nationalism

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 187-202

  12. Britain: Evangelicals, Humanitarians and Guilt

    • Harry G. Gelber
    Pages 203-217

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 218-252
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Keywords

About this book

This book questions the universal belief that England's 1840-42 war with China was an 'Opium War'. What really worried London was 'insults to the crown', the claim of a dilapidated and corrupt China to be superior to everyone, threats to British men and women and seizure of British property, plus the wish to expand and free trade everywhere. It was only much later that general Chinese resentment and Evangelical opinion at home - and in America - persuaded everyone that Britain had indeed been wicked and fought for opium.

Reviews

'...timely, intelligent, unprejudiced and readable...this is a work of intellectual as much as diplomatic history and readers will enjoy seeing old orthodoxies subverted and ingrained prejudices dissipated by Dr Gelber's persuasive insinuation of reason.' - Professor S.A.M. Adshead, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

'...a well written, sharp-eyed and thoughtful treatment of a subject which continues to arouse interest and controversy among historians.' - Professor John Gregory, author of The West and China Since 1500

'Harry Gelber shows how opium was only the immediate cause of war in a conflict which was far more about the gulf between British and Chinese views of international order and the rules of trade. I enjoyed reading it immensely.' - Professor Lord William Wallace, London School of Economics and Political Science

Authors and Affiliations

  • London School of Economics, UK

    Harry G. Gelber

About the author

HARRY G. GELBER is Professor of History and Political Science and Visiting Research Fellow at the Asian Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Economy. His publications include Australia, Britain and the EEC, 1961-1963, National Power, Security and Economic Uncertainty, and Sovereignty Through Interdependence.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Opium, Soldiers and Evangelicals

  • Book Subtitle: England's 1840-42 War with China and its Aftermath

  • Authors: Harry G. Gelber

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230000704

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History Collection, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2004

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4039-0700-4Published: 24 February 2004

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-51037-5Published: 01 January 2004

  • eBook ISBN: 978-0-230-00070-4Published: 24 February 2004

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: X, 252

  • Topics: Asian History, History of Britain and Ireland, History of Military, Modern History

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