The attaché at Peking

"The Attaché at Peking" by A.B. Freeman-Mitford is a collection of personal letters that offers a window into 19th-century China, revealing the author's encounters and reflections while living in Peking amidst political and social unrest; it chronicles the author's time in China, diving into the intricacies of Chinese traditions, the challenging dynamics of international relations, and the delicate status of Europeans living in a land brimming with paradoxes. Examining the stark differences in modernization between China and Japan, the letters highlight the deep-rooted cultural pride held by the Chinese people, as well as convey the constant tension and veiled threats lingering in Peking, while he contemplates both his own experiences and the wider consequences of foreign involvement in a nation wrestling with rebellions and societal transformation.