First published 2015
James Bradley traces the twisted century of American involvement in China from the 1850s through World War II. The story begins with wealthy Americans who built fortunes trafficking opium to Chinese markets while Christian missionaries simultaneously promised spiritual salvation to those who embraced Western civilization. Bradley connects these early drug profits to powerful American families, showing how Warren Delano's opium wealth eventually supported his grandson Franklin Delano Roosevelt's rise to the presidency. The narrative spans from the Civil War's end to the atomic bomb, moving between Hong Kong's bustling ports and Princeton University's academic halls. Bradley reveals how American businessmen, missionaries, and politicians created persistent illusions about China that shaped disastrous foreign policy decisions. The book demonstrates how these financial and religious entanglements produced a fundamental misunderstanding of Chinese society and politics. Bradley argues that American leaders consistently misjudged Chinese intentions and capabilities, leading to costly miscalculations during the rise of Mao and the Communist revolution. This pattern of misperception created consequences that continue to influence American relations with China today.
Genres: history, 20th-century, politics, china, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-drama, investigative-journalism
Setting: China, Hong Kong, Princeton University
Period: 1850s, Civil War, World War II
432 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company