One of China's most fascinating cities, Nanjing has a vibrant past that has made it of unwavering importance in the affairs of emperors and revolutionaries throughout the centuries. Many times the capital of dynasties, many times overcome by foreign and domestic aggressors, Nanjing has survived as a curiosity of China's astonishing history.

Roy Kesey's new book Nanjing -- A Cultural and Historical Guide for Travellers takes away the veil for contemporary visitors. Not merely a travel guide with listings and reviews, Nanjing examines the city as a cultural artefact, digging out the past from every corner. A meticulously detailed volume, Nanjing brings this extraordinary city to the forefront and for the first time presents a thorough examination of the city for a Western audience.

Reviews

"For any traveller, student, teacher, or resident in Nanjing, Roy Kesey's book is an invaluable guide to what could otherwise be an overwhelming amount of sites to see. He gives unbiased information, logically presented in a compact and readable format, allowing readers to gain a firm grasp on the history and culture of one of the world's great historic capitals without being bombarded by the facts. Recommended as required reading for before, during, and after a visit to any of Nanjing's sites."   

  -- Julie Sisk, editor, MAP magazine.

"In this well-informed and beautifully observed book, Nanjing at last has a guide worthy of its rich history and contemporary vibrancy. An elegant, engaging writer, Roy Kesey is the ideal guide to the mighty city on the Yangtze. His book avoids potted recitation of facts in favor of compelling historical anecdotes, scholarly quotes, and profiles of historical figures that breathe life into Nanjing's many tourist sites and inform its unique modern character. Leavened with humor and telling details, this book should inspire many visits to Nanjing."

  -- Adam Pilsbury, Editor of the Insider's Guide to Beijing & Beijing Excursion Guide.

"I can't imagine anyone better suited than Roy Kesey to present Nanjing to the world. Focusing on the city's long history and vibrant cultural scene, and possessed of the 'magic talent of releasing flowers from his pen,' Kesey portrays the city vividly. As he notes, the mythological animal known as the bixie, with its head rising proudly to heaven, is the key to understanding the past and present of Nanjing. Both visitors and armchair travelers will find this book a joy to read."

  -- Zhang Lijia, Author of Frog in a Well and co-author of China Remembers.

Product Details

Paperback: 384 pages
Publish Date: April 1, 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 750223876X
ISBN-13: 978-7502238766
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds

Author, Roy Kesey

Roy Kesey was born in California, and currently lives in Beijing with his wife and children. His first book, the award-winning novella Nothing in the World, was published by Bullfight Media in 2006; his debut collection of short stories, All Over, will be published in October of 2007 by Dzanc Press. He has published fiction and creative nonfiction in more than fifty journals and magazines in the United States, Canada, England and Scotland, and writes regular columns for that's Beijing and McSweeney's.

(China.org.cn December 27, 2007)