The Foreigner in Far Cathay

Walter Medhust’s 1872 book traces his personal impressions of nineteenth-century Chinese society. The author is determined to give a picture of the country and its inhabitants that is realistic and free of the tired cliches often found in contemporary Western accounts of the country. Medhurst engages with a wide spectrum of Chinese traditions and habits: looking at the characteristics of advertising and how Chinese newspapers are run; describing opium-smoking and Chinese burial customs; delving into the relationship between men and women; and sampling the delights of Chinese cuisine. He also writes about the position of foreign citizens in China and focuses on the relationship between China and the Western world. Concerned that the West should show China the respect it deserves, he attempts especially to capture the essence of the Chinese character.