A remarkable history of the two-centuries-old relationship between the United States and China, from the Revolutionary War to the present day From the clipper ships that ventured to Canton hauling cargos of American ginseng to swap Chinese tea, to the US warships facing off against China's growing navy in the South China Sea, from the Yankee missionaries who brought Christianity and education to China, to the Chinese who built the American West, the United States and China have always been dramatically intertwined. For more than two centuries, American and Chinese statesmen, merchants, missionaries, and adventurers, men and women, have profoundly influenced the fate of these nations. While we tend to think of America's ties with China as starting in 1972 with the visit of President Richard Nixon to China, the patterns—rapturous enchantment followed by angry disillusionment—were set in motion hundreds of years earlier. Drawing on personal letters, diaries, memoirs, government documents, and contemporary news reports, John Pomfret reconstructs the surprising, tragic, and marvelous ways Americans and Chinese have engaged with one another through the centuries. A fascinating and thrilling account, The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom is also an indispensable book for understanding the most important—and often the most perplexing—relationship between any two countries in the world.

Building Ridges and Roads in the Korean Conflict tells the inside story of a combat engineers company from Scottsboro, Alabama, that served in the Korean "War". The contributions of units such as Company B aren't always fully appreciated. In this book, Dykes demonstrates their importance in the conduct of that conflict. Praise for the author's previous books: For Growing Up Hard: "Reading Growing Up Hard is like sitting on the porch sipping a glass of cold iced tea while listening to a favorite grandfather tell stories of what it was like to grow up in more difficult times."-The Alabama Review For James O. Haley: "You can't put the book down until you finish reading it for Dykes seizes your undivided attention."-Sen. Howell Heflin "I enjoyed it more than I can express. I really feel inadequate to comment on this excellent work."-Gov. Albert Brewer "Wonderful book"-Trial Lawyers Association "Thoroughly enjoyable"-Birmingham Bar

Redemption and Regret presents two previously unpublished typescripts of James Scarth Gale, a Canadian missionary to Korea for four decades (1888–1927). During his time in Korea, Gale developed into the foremost Western scholar of Korean history, language, and literature, completing the first translation of Korean literature into a Western language, the first translation of English literature into Korean, and the first comprehensive Korean-English dictionary. In addition to these translations, the typescripts entitled Pen Pictures of Old Korea (ca. 1910) and Old Corea (ca. 1925), each presented here with introductory essays, contain Gale’s observations of various cultural artifacts, behaviours, and practices. Gale lived in Korea during a tumultuous and transformative period that witnessed the transition of the country from a "hermit" suzerain kingdom to an independent empire, and finally to a colonial possession of Japan. Pen Pictures of Old Korea and Old Corea preserve what Gale viewed as inevitably fated for extinction. This realization imbues his writings with a sense of ambivalence towards the "passing" of traditional Korea – owing to the conflict between his profound admiration for pre-modern Korean culture and his Western missionary identity, which demanded that the country adapt to a modern, Christian world.

The Rough Guide to Korea is the ultimate travel guide to this fascinating peninsula, with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the best tourist attractions. Discover Korea's highlights with stunning photography and insightful descriptions of everything from Seoul's wonderful palaces and hectic nightlife scene to the fishing islands of the West and South Seas, as well as a chapter devoted to North Korea. Find detailed practical advice on what to see and do in Korea, relying on up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels, bars, clubs, shops and restaurants for all budgets. The Rough Guide to Korea also includes full-colour sections and describes the country's famously spicy food, plus a guide to hiking in its many national parks. In addition, a detailed history section gives a thorough account of the country's dynastic past, while a language guide will ensure that you find your way around this enchanting land. Originally published in print in 2011. Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to Korea. Now available in ePub format.