Great Britain and the Taipings

Originally published in 1969 this was the first full study of British reactions to the major civil war known as the Taiping Rebellion which ravaged China in the mid-nineteenth century. The main emphasis of the book is on government policy towards the rebellion over the whole period in which it was active, but there are also chapters dealing with the views of merchants, missionaries and the general population. As well as filling in a vital chapter in the history of Sino-Western relations the book provides a case study of the process of policy making in an important area of ‘informal’ empire. It will therefore be of interest to both students of nineteenth century Chinese history and of the Taiping Rebellion in particular, but also to those interested in mid-Victorian imperialism.

About the Author

John S. Gregory (Jack) (1923–2021) formally commenced his academic interest in Chinese history while completing his PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His thesis British Attitudes and Policy Towards the Taiping Rebellion in China 1850-64 was completed in 1957. On returning to Australia, Jack lectured at Melbourne University from 1958 to 1967 on Japanese and Chinese history. In 1968 he moved to the recently established La Trobe University in Melbourne and soon after Great Britain and the Taipings was first published. Jack remained at La Trobe University as Reader and then Professor until his retirement in 1983 after which he was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor.