The Peking Express : The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China
In May 1923, when Shanghai publisher and reporter John Benjamin Powell bought a first-class ticket for the Peking Express, he pictured an idyllic overnight journey on a brand-new train of unprecedented luxuryâexactly what the advertisements promised. Seeing his fellow passengers, including mysterious Italian lawyer Giuseppe Musso, a confidante of Mussolini and lawyer for the opium trade, and American heiress Lucy Aldrich, sister-in-law of John D. Rockefeller Jr., he knew it would be an unforgettable trip.
Charismatic bandit leader and populist rabble rouser Sun Mei-yao had also taken notice of the new train from Shanghai to Peking. On the night of Powellâs trip of a lifetime, Sun launched his plan to make a brazen political statement: he and a thousand fellow bandits descended on the train, capturing dozens of hostages.
Aided by local proxy authorities, the humiliated Peking government soon furiously gave chase. At the banditsâ mountain stronghold, a five-week siege began.
Brilliantly written, with new and original research, The Peking Express tells the incredible true story of a clash that shocked the worldâbecoming so celebrated it inspired several Hollywood moviesâand set the course for Chinaâs two-decade civil war.
PRODUCT DETAILS :
ISBN : 9781541701700 | |
BY (AUTHOR) Zimmerman, James M. | |
PUBLISHER : PublicAffairs | PUBLICATION DATE :Â April 4, 2023 |
COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION :Â | IMPRINT : |
LANGUAGE : English | AGE : General |
PRODUCT FORM :Â Hardback |
WEIGHT : 558 g
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