Foreign Mud: Being an Account of the Opium Imbroglio at Canton in the 1830s and the Anglo-Chinese War that Followed
First published in 1946 and long out of print, this nonfiction historical account brings an obscure (at least to most Americans) subject engagingly to light. First, the scene is thoroughly set. Early nineteenth century Canton is laid before us: An isolationist, elitist Chinese culture that looks down its collective nose at the British and American traders it tolerates for fiscal reasons. A subtly intricate political milieu that nearly defies present-day western understanding. The clandestine importation from British India of “foreign mud,” or opium, to which huge numbers of Chinese have become addicted. Only after ensuring that his reader is almost as intimately familiar with these environs as he himself is does Mr. Collis begin his account of the Opium Wars and the events leading up to them.
The elegantly written narrative is interspersed with informative maps and rich illustrations from paintings by period artists. Events are recounted with a level of detail and cohesion that conveys a sense of historical integrity. People on both sides of the conflict are depicted with great depth and a thoughtful objectivity.
