The Great Wall Revisited From the Jade Gate to Old Dragon's Head

In this handsomely produced volume, Lindesay achieves a five-strike success. He provides a concise account of the when, whys, and wheres of wall building, dispatching the still-enduring myths of a single wall, built at a single time or in a single style to block the northern nomads; he tracks the Wall’s early presentation in Western cartography and narrative; he presents remarkable William Edgar Geil (1865-1925), the pioneer of Wall exploration and reportage; and, by re-photographing seventy-two significant sites, he gives us a very timely history of the destruction of many fine Wall towers and structures—all of which he accomplishes in clean prose and unrivaled photos and reproductions. In addition, Lindesay provides a clear and much-needed illustration of the Wall’s strategically sited western and eastern end-structures.

Reviewed by Peter Skinner

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Load Next Review