China: A History

An authoritative account of five thousand years of Chinese history.

"Exquisitely written." —Guardian

Many nations define themselves in terms of territory or people; China defines itself in terms of history. Taking into account the country's unrivaled, voluminous tradition of history writing, John Keay has composed a vital and illuminating overview of the nation's complex and vivid past.

Keay's authoritative history examines 5,000 years in China, from the time of the Three Dynasties through ...