The Nature of Disaster in China
The 1931 Yangzi River Flood
$41.99 USD
Part of Studies in Environment and History
- Author: Chris Courtney, University of Cambridge
- Date Published: January 2018
- availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
- format: Adobe eBook Reader
- isbn: 9781108287098
Find out more about Cambridge eBooks
$
41.99 USD
Adobe eBook Reader
Other available formats:
Hardback, Paperback
Looking for an inspection copy?
This title is not currently available on inspection
-
In 1931, China suffered a catastrophic flood that claimed millions of lives. This was neither a natural nor human-made disaster. Rather, it was created by an interaction between the environment and society. Regular inundation had long been an integral feature of the ecology and culture of the middle Yangzi, yet by the modern era floods had become humanitarian catastrophes. Courtney describes how the ecological and economic effects of the 1931 flood pulse caused widespread famine and epidemics. He takes readers into the inundated streets of Wuhan, describing the terrifying and disorientating sensory environment. He explains why locals believed that an angry Dragon King was causing the flood, and explores how Japanese invasion and war with the Communists inhibited both official relief efforts and refugee coping strategies. This innovative study offers the first in-depth analysis of the 1931 flood, and charts the evolution of one of China's most persistent environmental problems.
Read more- The first in-depth analysis of one of the most lethal floods in human history
- Integrates multiple different historiographical approaches, including environmental, cultural, social and disaster history
- Examines the long-term development of one of China's most pressing contemporary environmental problems
Awards
- Winner, 2019 John K. Fairbank Prize, American Historical Association
Reviews & endorsements
'Among the welcome deluge of works on the environmental history of rivers in China, Courtney's work is distinctive in being able to bring the multiple dimensions, such as the hydrological, agricultural, local, political and not least, the cosmological and religious - within the optic he calls 'disaster regimes'. It is an innovative idea that can help guide the increasingly important field of disaster studies.' Prasenjit Duara, Oscar Tang Professor, Duke University, North Carolina
See more reviews'This is a marvelous book. Courtney examines the massive but often-overlooked Yangzi River Flood of 1931 from environmental, ecological, institutional, cultural, social, and sensory perspectives, and delves into topics as varied as snail fever and the Dragon King cult. The Nature of Disaster greatly enriches our understanding of flooding in Nationalist China, and makes an important and timely contribution to the broader field of Chinese disaster studies.' Kathryn Edgerton-Tarpley, San Diego State University
'Courtney employs a multidimensional perspective that benefits from new trends in environmental history, as well as the more conventional institutional and political approaches of historians … Each of these six cleverly researched and well-written histories of the 1931 flood presents insights of great interest …' Lillian M. Li, Journal of Interdisciplinary History
'… the most detailed and explanatory book on the 1931 flood of central China. It fills an important gap and should remain a key reference on the subject.' Delphine Spicq, East Asian Science, Technology, and Medicine
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: January 2018
- format: Adobe eBook Reader
- isbn: 9781108287098
- contains: 19 b/w illus. 3 tables
- availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Long River长江
2. The flood pulse
3. The Dragon King龙王
4. A sense of disaster
5. Disaster experts
6. The floating population
Epilogue.
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×