{"product_id":"barbarian-eye-lord-napier-in-china-1834-the-prelude-to-hong-kong-9781857531169","title":"BARBARIAN EYE: Lord Napier in China, 1834 - the Prelude to Hong Kong","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBARBARIAN EYE: Lord Napier in China, 1834 - the Prelude to Hong Kong\u003c\/strong\u003e by Napier, Priscilla. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781857531169.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis delightfully written book tells the story of William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier of Merchiston, who was sent to China in 1834, not to stop the opium smuggling (by which all local officials profited hugely), but to seek a settlement between the British sea-traders and the Cantonese authorities. He was at once seen by the Chinese authorities as a dangerous spy - a Barbarian Eye.\n\nAlthough his attempts to find an agreement were unsuccessful, Lord Napier noticed a rocky island occupied by only a few fishermens families, and guarding one of the worlds finest harbours. Why not arrange to trade from here, rather than up river at Canton, where ships could be boxed in at whim? The island was called Hong Kong.\n\nBased largely upon Lord Napiers letters and journals, the book gives an admirable insight into the story of Western contacts over the centuries with China, as well as life in England and Scotland in the early 19th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Brand: Brassey's UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45816090853429,"sku":"ByrdShop_1857531167","price":29.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781857531169_fae54e40-12f1-45ca-9a20-db4188f7eb45_066c7375-0889-497a-bb6f-7c79fef21b4b.jpg?v=1790189473","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/barbarian-eye-lord-napier-in-china-1834-the-prelude-to-hong-kong-9781857531169","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}