by Paul French
First published 2014
The Great War has ended, and diplomats gather in Paris to reshape the world. China's delegation arrives with high hopes of reclaiming territory that Japan seized when the war began. The superpowers offer early promises and encouragement, suggesting China's moment has finally come. But as negotiations unfold behind closed doors, those same allies who once offered support begin to waver. Japan's influence proves stronger than expected, and China's representatives watch their carefully laid plans crumble. The betrayal cuts deep, not just because of what China loses, but because of what the Western powers promised and then abandoned. The delegates must return home empty-handed, carrying news that will reshape their nation's relationship with the world. This diplomatic defeat will echo through decades, influencing China's path in ways no one at the conference can foresee.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, political-thriller
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-intrigue
Setting: Paris, China, Japan
Period: 1910s
96 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Penguin