Author Description

Half of the material in this substantial history derives from Li's dissertation (in history from the U. of Washington), the remainder from subsequent archival research. The history of the Bureau for Recruiting Merchants, a Chinese steamship enterprise, is told with attention to the competing forces of private versus state enterprise, revealing the political situation of commerce for the period. The controversy over unwanted influence by western imperialism is also described. Li teaches history at Tacoma Community College, Washington. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)