Through the opium smoke

Author: Don Quixote Almeida (Colombia)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: At that time, the personnel sent by Ye Mingchen roamed the city freely. Who could stop them from luring servants, creating poisoning incidents, setting fires, or committing collective massacres when no one was looking? We essentially handed ourselves completely over to our opponents, allowing them to manipulate us. Those days were truly like years passing in a single day; surviving each day was a miracle. At that moment, even if the Chinese had occupied Hong Kong and sacrificed all the European residents, it would have been as easy as pie. One of the "Personal Experiences in China" series, this is a firsthand work by foreigners who came to China. The author, Don Quixote, fully reveals his joys, sorrows, and emotions to the readers, straightforward and clear. He experienced the Second Opium War in China, capturing the historical process with a live-action photo, giving the book historical value. His narration, observation perspective, and way of thinking can also help Chinese readers understand what Chinese culture looks like reflected in the Western cultural context, thus producing reactions from both sides: how to view Western culture and how to reflect. The book reflects the author's superficial understanding of the essence of Chinese culture and his lack of knowledge of Chinese history. When describing Chinese history, he dared to write based on hearsay, and his courage is commendable.