Books on Taiwan: something for everyone

[Mucha Man]

I've been trying out some of these titles on Google Book Search (Beta) and many are available.

http://books.google.com/books

[Elegua]

While possibly too prosaic for this well read crow, liked reading Pai Hsien (Xian) Yong's Taipei People and Huang Chunming's The Taste of Apples back to back. I felt like they gave a good perspective on the Taiwanese view vs the WSR view.

While not serious literature, I've always enjoyed reading JinYong. The Chinese is very accessible for medium-level Chinese readers.

[chung]

more thought-provoking books for those interested in Taiwan's colonial past

Steere, Joseph Beal. 2002. Formosa and Its Inhabitants, edited by Paul Li. Institute of Taiwan History (Preparatory Office), Academia Sinica. ISBN 957-671-901-1
This book is a collection of papers from Steere's 1873-1874 expedition through Formosa.

Katz, Paul R. 2005. When Valleys Turned Blood Red: The Ta-pa-ni Incident in Colonial Taiwan. Taipei, SMC. ISBN 957-638-687-X

Eskildsen, Robert (Ed.) 2005. Foreign Adventurers and the Aborigines of Southern Taiwan, 1867-1874. Institute of Taiwan History (Preparatory Office), Academic Sinica. ISBN 986-00-3788-4
"Humanity makes it a law to civilized nations to see that that portion of Formosa is kept clear of any of the inhospitable hordes that infest it, and if your Government does not do it, on the ground that it has no jurisdiction therein, or that it has not the ability or the power to perform the task, the foreign powers will have to take the case in hand."

Dodd, John. 1888. Journal of a Blockaded Resident in North Formosa, 1884-1885. (Reprint) Taipei. Ch'eng Wen, 1972.
"The Chinese town of Kelung is without doubt the filthiest abode of human beings in the whole island. It is built on low marshy land, originally perhaps a mud flat formed by filling in of the harbour. A more miserable and unhealthy site, in a semi-tropical, rainy locality, could not have been pitched upon."

Clark, J.D. 1896. Formosa. Shanghai Mercury, (Reprint) Taipei. Ch'eng Wen, 1971.
Clark puts together a nice summary of the island's economy during the last days of Ching rule. Over half of the book is dedicated to an examination of imports and exports through various treaty ports. There's also lots interesting trivia. In 1888 a return fare on the Taipei-Keelung railway was 10 cents. English stamps were used as tickets.

Andrade, Tonio. 2008. How Taiwan Became Chinese: Dutch, Spanish, and Han Colonization in the Seventeenth Century. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12855-1
http://www.gutenberg-e.org/andrade/

Kaplan, David E. 1992. Fires of the Dragon. New York, Anteneum. ISBN 0-689-12006-4
"Hidden in the controversy - and complicating the American response - was the nature of Wang Hsi-ling's relationship to the U.S government. Known to only a few in the CIA, the KMT's spy chief in America had diversified his clientele. While attempting to sabotage U.S foreign policy, steal military secrets, and spy on its citizens, Wang also had gone to work for the Americans."

[yaoshema]

"Forbidden Nation" -- by far the best overview of Taiwan history.

[Taiwanlight Zone]

"Forbidden Nation" is excellent, yes. I've just finished reading it and it brings the whole history of Taiwan (almost up to the present day) very much to life.

[StevenCrook]

Time to blow my own trumpet. My second book is out, finally, although there was a bit of a problem with the name printed on it.

If you care to read about the name issue and the book itself, see:
http://crooksteven.blogspot.com/2010/05 ... unced.html

I've no idea if the book is for sale in Taiwan. I got paid a flat fee, and after the name debacle, I'm not inclined to bust my guts promoting it.

[StevenCrook]

The publisher of DO & DONT'S TAIWAN has resolved the name issue to my satisfaction (and that of the illustrator) and I'm told the book is on sale in Taiwan. Not sure where - will post details when I get them.

[saddletramp]

Steven, Look forward to reading it. Hope you write some more on alternative energy as well!

[StevenCrook]

The publisher of DO & DONT'S TAIWAN has resolved the name issue to my satisfaction (and that of the illustrator) and I'm told the book is on sale in Taiwan. Not sure where - will post details when I get them.

I'm told DOS & DON'TS IN TAIWAN can now be had from Page One, Kinokuniya, and six of the island's Caves.

While on the subject of my books, I've spare author's copies of my newest, TAIWAN: THE BRADT TRAVEL GUIDE, and I'm willing to sell them. Send me a pm if you're interested.

[Enigma]

I just finished this book about the early days of North Taiwan. It's a biography of G. L. Mackay. Very interesting.
The Black-Bearded Barbarian by Mary Esther Miller MacGregor (AKA Marion Keith)
and it's free at
Gutenberg.org

Download in various formats or read online.
Enjoy