Record Details

Catalog Search

Search The Catalog



Fragile cargo : the World War II race to save the treasures of China's forbidden city / Adam Brookes.

Summary:

"Spring 1933: The silent courtyards and palaces of Peking's Forbidden City, for centuries the home of Chinese emperors, are tense with fear and expectation. Japan's aircrafts drone overhead, its troops and tanks are only hours away. All-out war between China and Japan is coming, and the curators of the Forbidden City are faced with an impossible question: how will they protect the vast imperial art collections in their charge? A difficult and monumental decision is made: to safeguard the treasures, they will need to be evacuated. For sixteen terrifying years, under the quiet leadership of museum director Ma Heng, the curators would go on to transport the imperial art collections thousands of miles across China--up rivers of white water, across mountain ranges, and through burning cities. In their search for safety the curators and their fragile, invaluable cargo journeyed through the maelstrom of violence, chaos, and starvation that was China's Second World War"--Publisher marketing.

Record details

  • ISBN: 1982149299
  • ISBN: 9781982149291
  • Physical Description: 370 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 24 cm
  • Edition: First Atria Books edition
  • Publisher: New York : Atria Books, 2023.

Content descriptions

General Note:
"Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2022 by Chatto & Windus"--Title page verso.
Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Prelude: The Forbidden City -- First glimpse of the Imperial collections -- The shabby professor -- Peace, and war -- Evacuation -- Shanghai -- To London -- The Southern route -- Fleeing Nanjing -- The central route -- The Northern route -- A sort of sanctuary -- The unforgettable day -- Exile? -- Hunting tigers.
Subject:
Ma, Heng, 1881-1955.
Forbidden City (Beijing, China) > History.
Art treasures in war > China > Beijing > History > 20th century.
Art > China > Beijing.
Cultural property > Protection > China > Beijing > History > 20th century.
Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945.
China > History > 1937-1945.
Genre:
Informational works.

Available copies

  • 12 of 12 copies available at NC Cardinal.
  • 2 of 2 copies available at McDowell County Public Library. (Show)

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 12 total copies.
Sort by distance from:
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Marion Library 709.51 BRO (Text) 37810435583983 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Old Fort Branch Library 709.51 BRO (Text) 37810435802698 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Ashe County Public Library 709.51 BRO (Text) 50503300477512 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Goldsboro Library 709.5 BRO (Text) 900005000174644 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Henderson Main Branch 709.51 B (Text) 33258010236616 Adult Nonfiction Available -
High Point Library 709.51 Brookes (Text) 30519010880881 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Leland Library 709.51 BRO (Text) 31423621349403 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Madison Main Library 709.51 BRO (Text) 30229101355880 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Paddison Memorial Branch 709.51 B 2023 (Text) 0112400157528 Adult Nonfiction Available -
Reynolda Manor Branch 709.51 B 2023 (Text) 0112400157536 Adult Nonfiction Available -