Book Review, Merchants of War and Peace by Song-Chuan Chen (original) (raw)

In "Merchants of War and Peace: British Knowledge of China in the Making of the Opium War", Song-Chuan Chen argues that the Opium War's origins lie primarily with the pro-war merchants in Canton rather than the opium trade or broader British imperial ambitions. The book highlights the complex dynamics of British attitudes towards China, illustrating how these merchants lobbied for war while anti-war voices managed to shape the narrative surrounding the conflict. It delves into issues such as the Canton system of trade, the evolution of linguistic perceptions regarding Europeans, and the strategic intelligence gathered by merchants that influenced military actions during the war.