About the book
“Spence shows himself at once historian, detective, and artist. . . . He makes history howl.” (The New Republic)
Award-winning author Jonathan D. Spence paints a vivid picture of an obscure place and time: provincial China in the seventeenth century. Life in the northeastern county of T’an-ch’eng emerges here as an endless cycle of floods, plagues, crop failures, banditry, and heavy taxation. Against this turbulent background a tenacious tax collector, an irascible farmer, and an unhappy wife act out a poignant drama at whose climax the wife, having run away from her husband, returns to him, only to die at his hands. Magnificently evoking the China of long ago, The Death of Woman Wang also deepens our understanding of the China we know today.
Editions of The Death of Woman Wang
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780670262328
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780140051216
Read an Excerpt
“Spence shows himself at once historian, detective, and artist. . . . He makes history howl.” (The New Republic)
Award-winning author Jonathan D. Spence paints a vivid picture of an obscure place and time: provincial China in the seventeenth century. Life in the northeastern county of T’an-ch’eng emerges here as an endless cycle of floods, plagues, crop failures, banditry, and heavy taxation. Against this turbulent background a tenacious tax collector, an irascible farmer, and an unhappy wife act out a poignant drama at whose climax the wife, having run away from her husband, returns to him, only to die at his hands. Magnificently evoking the China of long ago, The Death of Woman Wang also deepens our understanding of the China we know today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Death of Woman Wang about?
“Spence shows himself at once historian, detective, and artist. . . . He makes history howl.” (The New Republic)
Award-winning author Jonathan D. Spence paints a vivid picture of an obscure place and time: provincial China in the seventeenth century. Life in the northeastern county of T’an-ch’eng emerges here as an endless cycle of floods, plagues, crop failures, banditry, and heavy taxation. Against this turbulent background a tenacious tax collector, an irascible farmer, and an unhappy wife act out a poignant drama at whose climax the wife, having run away from her husband, returns to him, only to die at his hands. Magnificently evoking the China of long ago, The Death of Woman Wang also deepens our understanding of the China we know today.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Death of Woman Wang?
History and Archaeology > History > Asian history
Where can I read a sample of The Death of Woman Wang?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780670262328
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Death of Woman Wang?
Jonathan D. Spence
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Death of Woman Wang is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780670262328) and paperback(ISBN 9780140051216)
Where can I buy The Death of Woman Wang online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Death of Woman Wang from below
Where can I buy The Death of Woman Wang?