Reviews
"A lively, interesting and highly readable account of a time when 'Chinacould have become the great colonial power, a hundred years before the great ageof European exploration and expansion."--Far Eastern Economic Review, "A well-written and thought provoking book, When China Ruled the Seas will appeal to the scholar and the layperson." Medium, April 7, 1997, "Levathes tells her story in a lively style, and details her sources meticulously in extensive notes."--The New York Times Book Review, "Provides fascinating glimpses into China's regional and far-flung trading partners over a period of many centuries."--Asian Wall Street Journal, "Levathes writes popular history and therefore sprinkles her text withscene-setting and little digressions into everyday life in Ming China."--KirkusReviews, "Taking the maritime story as her main theme, Levathes presents a fascinating picture of political and court life during the first several reigns of the Ming, all based on primary sources and the most recent research....The story Levathes tells so skillfully could scarcely be moretimely."--The Washington Post, Taking the maritime story as her main theme, Levathes presents a fascinating picture of political and court life during the first several reigns of the Ming ... The story Levathes tells so skillfully could scarcely be more timely., "Good illustrations, detailed description of historical events."--Shaojie Jiang, Concordia University, "Obviously she put a lot of work into this book. Moreover, it is well written and sure to interest the students."--Roger Jeans, Washington and Lee University, Both an eloquent and smooth sail through history, and a reminder the China should have been the world's great imperial power; a glimpse into a shrouded past, and a journey that is astonishing and fun., "Levathes tells her story in a lively style, and details her sources meticulously."--The New York Times Book Review"A lively, interesting and highly readable account."--Far Eastern Economic Review, "Taking the maritime story as her main theme, Levathes presents afascinating picture of political and court life during the first several reignsof the Ming, all based on primary sources and the most recent research....Thestory Levathes tells so skillfully could scarcely be more timely."--TheWashington Post, "Provides fascinating glimpses into China's regional and far-flung tradingpartners over a period of many centuries."--Asian Wall Street Journal, "A well-written and thought provoking book, When China Ruled the Seas willappeal to the scholar and the layperson." Medium, April 7, 1997, Levathes' book brings China's maritime history together in a most readablenarrative."--Naples Daily News, "Levathes writes history in the praise worthy tradition of Barbara Tuchman....Highly recommended."--Library Journal, "Levathes tells her story in a lively style, and details her sources meticulously."--The New York Times Book Review "A lively, interesting and highly readable account."--Far Eastern Economic Review, "Levathes writes history in the praise worthy tradition of BarbaraTuchman....Highly recommended."--Library Journal, "Levathes' book brings China's maritime history together in a most readable narrative."--Naples Daily News, "Levathes tells her story in a lively style, and details her sourcesmeticulously in extensive notes."--The New York Times Book Review, "Levathes tells her story in a lively style, and details her sources meticulously."--The New York Times Book Review"A lively, interesting and highly readable account."--Far Eastern Economic Review"This is an engaging, readable...work. It is a book for the general reader and contains a great deal of information not found elsewhere."--Asian Thought and Society: An International Review"Obviously she put a lot of work into this book. Moreover, it is well written and sure to interest the students."--Roger Jeans, Washington and Lee University"Good illustrations, detailed description of historical events."--Shaojie Jiang, Concordia University"Levathes' book brings China's maritime history together in a most readable narrative."--Naples Daily News"Levathes tells her story in a lively style, and details her sources meticulously in extensive notes."--The New York Times Book Review"Meticulously researched."--The New York Times"A provocative book that fires the imagination."--Los Angeles Daily News"Taking the maritime story as her main theme, Levathes presents a fascinating picture of political and court life during the first several reigns of the Ming, all based on primary sources and the most recent research....The story Levathes tells so skillfully could scarcely be more timely."--The Washington Post"Levathes writes history in the praise worthy tradition of Barbara Tuchman....Highly recommended."--Library Journal"Provides fascinating glimpses into China's regional and far-flung trading partners over a period of many centuries."--Asian Wall Street Journal"Levathes writes popular history and therefore sprinkles her text with scene-setting and little digressions into everyday life in Ming China."--Kirkus Reviews"A lively, interesting and highly readable account of a time when 'China could have become the great colonial power, a hundred years before the great age of European exploration and expansion."--Far Eastern Economic Review"A fascinating chapter in seafaring history carefully recounted....Levathes has done welcome work in pulling together documents from Chinese archives and African and Indian sources to piece together a story that subsequent [Chinese] governments strove to obliterate from memory. You are not likely to read about it anywhere else."--Anchorage Daily News"Both an eloquent and smooth sail through history, and a reminder the China should have been the world's great imperial power; a glimpse into a shrouded past, and a journey that is astonishing and fun."--Ken Auletta"An important piece of work--the most straightforward and accessible account of the Zheng He expeditions."--John E. Wills, Jr., Director, East Asian Studies Center, University of Southern California"Highly informative, well-researched. Portrays a critical episode in China's history, and its long-term consequences."--Anthony P. DiPerna, Molloy College, NY, "This is an engaging, readable...work. It is a book for the general reader and contains a great deal of information not found elsewhere."--Asian Thought and Society: An International Review
