The Strain of Harmony - Men and Women in the History of China

London: William Heinemann, 1948. Silver title and motif on blue cloth boards which are unmarked with no wear but a slight indentation to lower front. Internally there is a little foxing to front endpaper else very clean, tight and unmarked. A Very Good+ copy. Dustjacket has a repaired closed tear and has some loss to back. xii + 188 pages. 16 illustrations. The men and women in the book are sages, saints, scoundrels, soldiers, statesmen and sovereigns. The first lived more than four thousand years ago, while the last still controls his country's destiny. Each little biography is a piece of exquisite jade, carved with affectionate simplicity by an author in love with his art. Strung upon a thread in this book they make a necklace which shines with all the wonder and glory of all Chinese history and thought. Includes Yao the Sage Emperor, Lao Tzu the Mystic, Confucius the Teacher, Ch'in Shih Huang Ti the Fist Emperor, Li Shih Min the Founder of a Great Empire, Tu Fu the Poet, P'u Sung-ling the Story Teller, Sun Yat-sen the National Hero of Modern China, Chiang Kai-shek. B2C. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.