Imperial Twilight : The Opium War and the End of China’S Last Golden Age - Stephen R Platt

[Xerxes]

I am reading this book alongside “Return of the King” by William Dalrymple, who is the host of “Empire” podcast and author of many history books on India
 

Both books that I am reading in parallel are set in the 1840s, the Return of King covers East India Company attempt to install an exiled monarch named Shuja as Shah in Afghanistan. That triggers the Anglo-Afghan Wars that ends with the annihilation of East India Company armies. Twenty years later, the Company itself is gone.
 

The other book set in the same timeframe, covers British attempt to “open up” China under the then rule of Manchu emperors. The trade through Canton was too little for British taste, who wanted more.
 

While the Anglo-Afghan Wars were disastrous, the Opium Wars was anything but. I would highly recommend this book I am a quarter way through it. 
 

Here are some excerpts:

 

[Xerxes]

The growing tea trade …. And the growing trade deficit as silver moved from west to east. 
 

[Xerxes]

It was not just the Opium War that ended China’ Golden Age but also the deep corruption at the very top of Chinese ruling class as the ailing emperor gradually lost control to his deeply corrupt grand minister.