‘One of the most charming travel books ever written.’--The Guardian
Exiled from China in 1933 and separated from his wife and children, Chiang Yee spent over 40 years away from his homeland. Adopting the name The Silent Traveller, he threw himself into his passions—writing, painting and poetry—and produced some of the most evocative, unique and enduring travel books ever written. Chiang Yee was, in his own words, ‘dazzled’ by the Scottish capital. From the Meadows to Princes Street, from Arthur’s Seat to Calton Hill and Edinburgh Castle, he paints an unforgettable picture of Edinburgh and its people in the 1940s. Writing with wry humour, he broadens our perspective of familiar sights and customs, introduces us to Confucian philosophy and Chinese poetry, corrects cultural misconceptions and encourages us to appreciate life. Illustrated throughout with Chiang Yee’s exquisite paintings, sketches and Chinese calligraphy, this edition—the first for over 50 years—has a new foreword by Da Zheng, Associate Professor of English at Suffolk University, Massachusetts.
Chiang Yee (1903-1977) was born in Jiujiang, China until he was driven into exile in 1933. He lived in London for several years before settling in the United States. A painter, calligrapher, poet, lecturer and travel writer, he wrote the classic textbook Chinese Calligraphy as well as the renowned Silent Traveller series, covering cities as diverse as Oxford, New York and Dublin.
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