Lovell, Julia. The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams, and the Making of China. Picador, 2011.
In this nonfiction book based off of scholarly research, Lovell details the intricacies of what led up to the Opium Wars, the most prominent figures of the era and their roles not only actively, but also their roles in the context surrounding the era, which is intricately detailed in an accessible manner as the events are followed.
The events and the entire background of the Qing dynasty are detailed as the war comes. Archived primary sources from the peoples of the time are included to help the reader to understand the broader scope as well as the individual aspects of the wars, and how China came to humiliation. The content of the book is very dense, taking into account a very personal aspect to the numerous situations that were a part of the conflicts and eras. Such a book is immensely helpful in understanding the opium wars whilst remaining straightforward to follow.
Chen, Janet et al. The Search For Modern China. W. W. Norton and Co., 2014.
In The Search For Modern China, various direct sources from various eras of China are collected as primary sources. This includes sources such as poetry, writings, letters, and addresses. These aid in the understanding of Chinese history as these sources are not only from research but from the people living in China themselves. Included are several sources and documentaries, selected in chronological order. In the collection of documents, there are a handful pertaining to the opium wars, such as edicts and lamentation on the era from notable Chinese from the time. Included are annotations as well as there being notes by the authors giving a brief introduction on the context of the documents and the period of Chinese history. Overall, this is a valuable source not only for the opium wars, but modern Chinese history as a whole.
Mühlhann, Klaus. Making China Modern: From the Great Qing to Xi Jinping. Harvard College, 2019.
Making China Modern is a great example of a scholarly analysis of modern Chinese history, with key analysis and timely commentary. In this book, based on the research of various distinguished expert historians, Mühlhann details the history laid out in its title, encompassing nearly five centuries of Chinese history with other materials such as maps, diagrams, and art from the time. The context is remarkably easy to follow and understand for anyone, as primary sources from the times are integrated into the text when needed, to allow the reader to further their understanding of the topics at hand. Such an undertaking is well-researched, with corroborated accounts in addition to the vast array of text. There is a decently sized section on the opium wars here, detailing the struggles of the late Qing against foreign encroachment, most notably the encroachment of Britain.
Zheng, Yanwen. Modern Asian Studies Vol. 37 No.1. Cambridge University Press, 2003. Pp 1-39.
The excerpt I used from this book details the vast and powerful social ramifications of the opium trade and its consequences on Chinese society. This serves to explain why the Chinese people would be smoking opium en masse and how it came to the national crisis that crippled the Qing regime, leaving a black eye on its already slipping rule. Named experts in Chinese history are brought up to contribute to the talking points and concepts of the events transpiring. These serve to aid in the greater learning about the opium wars. Topics include the allure of the seeming medicinal properties of opium as well as an inside look at the decadence of the inner Qing. These sources are expertly cataloged to allow for the immersion of the period of the Qing, and its surrounding circumstances. It’s an internal look into the use of opium, one from within, behind closed doors.
