26th January 2016
Chusan Island - Britain’s First Chinese Island
Liam D’Arcy Brown
Before the Union Jack ever flew over Hong Kong, it had been raised on Chusan. From a wealth of primary archives, Liam D'Arcy-Brown pieces together the forgotten story of how the British wrested Chusan from the Qing dynasty, only to hand it back for the sake of Queen Victoria's honour and Britain's national prestige.
At a time when the Chinese Communist Party is inspiring a new brand of patriotism by revisiting the shame inflicted during the Opium Wars, here is a talk that puts Britain's incursions into nineteenth-century China in a fascinating and revealing new light.
After reading Chinese at Oxford, Liam went on to study China’s ancient history in Shanghai on a British Council scholarship. He worked as a tour escort for Voyages Jules Verne before turning to travel writing. His books on China include, Green Dragon, Sombre Warrior, and The Emperor’s River.
At a time when the Chinese Communist Party is inspiring a new brand of patriotism by revisiting the shame inflicted during the Opium Wars, here is a talk that puts Britain's incursions into nineteenth-century China in a fascinating and revealing new light.
After reading Chinese at Oxford, Liam went on to study China’s ancient history in Shanghai on a British Council scholarship. He worked as a tour escort for Voyages Jules Verne before turning to travel writing. His books on China include, Green Dragon, Sombre Warrior, and The Emperor’s River.
The Society meets at the Hull Royal Hotel, 170 Ferensway, Hull HU1 3UF
All lectures are presented in the Royal Suite and start at 7.30pm prompt.
Doors are normally open at 6.45pm but access may be delayed if lecture preparations are not complete.
The audience are requested to please be in their seats before 7.25pm