{"product_id":"silk-silver-opium-the-trade-with-china-that-changed-history-9781761451980","title":"Silk Silver Opium: The Trade with China That Changed History","description":"\u003cb\u003eSilk Silver Opium\u003c\/b\u003e not only tells the fascinating stories of silk and tea, porcelain, silver and opium, missionaries, mercenaries and trade, but also what became inevitable - war and humiliation. Much about China's modern relationship with the West is the product of its past inter-reactions, conflicts, victories and humiliations. The South China Sea was the place from where the ultimately destructive European sailing ships arrived. The Ryukyu Island chain was the place from where marauding Japanese pirates preyed mercilessly on China's east coast ports. Taiwan was where anti-Qing rebels established a stronghold in the seventeenth century. The story of imperial China's trading relationship with the West is a powerful tale, with clear implications for the future. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichael Pembroke was a Supreme Court Judge in Sydney, Australia, before turning his hand to writing. His books include Australia \u003cb\u003eArthur Phillip - Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy\u003c\/b\u003e (2013), an historical biography of the first governor, that was short-listed for one of the highest awards in Australia, the Prime Minister's Literary Awards; \u003cb\u003eKorea - Where the American Century Began\u003c\/b\u003e (2018), a military and political critique of the Korean War that was nominated for a number of awards; and \u003cb\u003ePlay By the Rules\u003c\/b\u003e (2020), a polemic about American leadership that was published in the United States as \u003cb\u003eAmerica in Retreat. \u003c\/b\u003eHis books have received praise from Simon Winchester, Noam Chomsky and A.C. Grayling among others. He has written for \u003ci\u003eTime Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAl Jazeera\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eSouth China Morning Post\u003c\/i\u003e and news publications.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Hardie Grant Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51603275841810,"sku":"9781761451980","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_bcd84cb7-e794-4c03-94a2-499f90c4a73f.jpg?v=1757433068","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/silk-silver-opium-the-trade-with-china-that-changed-history-9781761451980","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}