A History of China

By: Hilda Hookham

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Trying to squeeze an entire history of Chinese civilization into a brief, one volume account is a formidable task, but one that has succeeded brilliantly here. Hilda Hookham has provided us with a concise story that, while not getting too entangled with personalities and cultural issues, manages to navigate the swirling passage of events that comprise over 3,000 years of Chinese political history. As a result, one is left with a singular impression of what Chinese civilization has meant, both as a cultural reality, and as a historical political force. It has been a tumultuous journey.

Recurring themes repeat themselves in dynasty after dynasty: order and statecraft, resource allocation and use, imperialism and population growth, barbarian invasion and subjugation of outlying districts. Each dynasty right up to the current communist regime has followed similar paths. In this brilliant synthesis, we begin to see the patterns of stable government, the building up of infrastructure, reforms to help the peasantry, and reforms of government bureaucracy. Then comes the destabilizing influences of corruption, debauched court life, demands for greater taxation, failing infrastructure, famine, military revolt and invasions by barbarians. The peasants revolt, the military crumbles and a new dynasty takes control, with or without the support of foreign powers, depending on the period. Eventually, as in the case of the Mongols and the Manchurians, the barbarians end up as rulers.

Throughout all of this turmoil, the essence of Chinese civilization has endured, sometimes, as in the case of the murderous Mao regime, at the cost of millions of lives. From Confucius and Lao-Tzu to Sun Yatsen, Chang Kaishek and Mao Zedong, Chinese civilization unfolds here in this audiobook as a comprehensible and highly enjoyable summary.

©1970 Hilda Hookham (P)2008 Audio Connoisseur

A decent overview, with some shortcomings

What did you love best about A History of China?

A decent overview of the history of China until the 1949 founding of the People's Republic.

How could the performance have been better?

This is the third audiobook I have listened to on the subject of China. Narrators should be coached on the proper pronunciation of Chinese names. It doesn't have to be exact, but there are ways to better approximate the pronunciation within the confines of the English language. I suppose it's ok for a casual listener with no knowledge of the Chinese.

Any additional comments?

The book was written in 1971, after the fall of Liu Xiaoqi, but before the PRC displaced Taiwan in the United Nations. The entire history between 1949 and 1971 sounds as if it was authored by the CCP, which perhaps is not surprising since most foreigners were kicked out of the PRC after its founding, and it was difficult to independently verify the little information that did flow out. With that in mind, it is still a good read for the pre-1949 history.

Well worth 11 hours of listening time

A concise but far-reaching history, from a pro from Maoist perspective. This is not my perspective but still, as someone with little knowledge about Chinese history, I found the book quite informative -- until the penultimate chapter which shows the writer had little understanding of China in the 20th century . Fortunately the final chapter addresses the shortcomings. Three cheers for the narrator -- fabulous

Maoist Propaganda

Most of this book is a rather pedestrian and superficial overview of China's various dynasties. Then comes a scathing critique of the Nationalist regime, followed by an unapologetically adoring portrait of Mao. The idolatry is then partially ameliorated by an unattributed addendum briefly listing Mao's crimes.

Audible Can Do Better Than This

After scouring the offerings for a general history of China, this seemed closest to what I sought. While it fit the general-history-of-china bill, Audible can surely offer a general history of China that is better than this. It was written decades ago and may have been a solid piece of scholarly work at the time, but I found it to be meandering and use language of otherness from which more updated histories have departed. It includes an "update" that isn't terribly satisfying or nuanced. I don't recommend it.

Too difficult to retain

The names are all in Chinese And there is no engaging narrative in which to help remember themThe narrator's voice was too somber. This added an air of dignity to the events but did not make anything standout

Extraordinary Repudiation of Author in Own Book

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The addendum was a pleasant surprise - setting the record straight after the author committed scholarly malpractice with regard to the last chapter.

Any additional comments?

This must be truly unprecedented - the publisher added an addendum vigorously repudiating what was in the book. The author willfully and obviously neglected to write an accurate portrayal of 20th century events. Fortunately the addendum set the record straight. With such a biased and misleading last chapter, is it not reasonable to suspect that the rest of the book is biased and misleading as well? It also begs the question: with such a poorly written last chapter which the publisher dutifully points out, why would Audible.com make this book available at all? Surely there are better books on the history of China.

A nice pace for a huge topic

Oddly boring, given the content matter is pretty spectacular, but the pace of the storytelling has a certain tedium to it. The reader has a great voice and I find the long slow history to be rather pleasant overall.

A disappointing listen.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Hookham spent more time on over dramatic language and facts and skimped on important contrasts between dynasties. Old names for cities were used with no connection to names used today making it difficult for reader to place location. No effort was made to provide reader an understanding of China's geography and changing boundaries. I think author spent more time on style than on clear writing.I wish Hookham had reported on each dynasty using the same elements and not bothered with the rambling quotes she used.

Would you ever listen to anything by Hilda Hookham again?

NO.

Would you be willing to try another one of Charlton Griffin’s performances?

No. As with the book, performance was over dramatic. Griffiin's over dramatic, echo chamber enhanced presentation during direct quotations was more distracting than useful.

Do you think A History of China needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Only by a writer more interested in the reader than their ego.

A Great Place to Start

Chinese history is vast. This book gives a great summary of the main event of its history. Many reviewers have rightfully pointed out its severe limitations and bias when dealing with 20th century events. However, none of that should detract from the superb narration and the fascinating, at times charming, account of Chinese history. If you know little about the people and history of the Middle Kingdom (China), this is a great place to begin. Ignore the bad reviews of this book, which seemed fixated on the very flawed last chapter. Most of the book beautifully narrates over 4000 years of history, in which you encounter fascinating people, from philosophers, poets, emperors, warriors, to the peasants that make up the bulk of the Chinese population. The book explores all facets of Chinese history, from natural disasters, warfare, revolutions, dynasties, technology, poetry, to palace intrigues. If you ignore this book based on these rather unfair reviews, you will be denying yourself a real treat, the joy of entering into another world and time.

My stomach cherns

Ok, I am a Marxist History writer, I spent my entire college career studying Marxist Criticism, but I am sorry, this is not even Marxist History. Insufficient statistics, inadequate class analysis and overall lack in economic insight and cultural experience of lower class made this history nothing more than Maoist properganda.

But one should take into consideration that the book was written in 1970, Mao was still in power and all the statistic released by China were distorted to paint a very rosy picture, plus considering what US was doing in Vietnam, the author may be trying to dealve into the leftest scholarship fashionable in the 1970s as a reaction to what she saw as a imperial venture. Read in this light, we can probably understand why she espoused to such an uncritical stance to Maoist textbook, she wasn't writing history, she was protesting foreign intervention. Readers, please make sure you have a strong stonach before you read this book.