The Perils of Interpreting

Viac o knihe

The 1793 British embassy to China, marked by Lord George Macartney's tense meeting with the Qianlong emperor, is often seen as a cultural clash driven by the East's indifference to the West. In this work, Henrietta Harrison shifts focus to Macartney's interpreters, Li Zibiao and George Thomas Staunton, exploring their roles in the exchanges. She investigates their backgrounds, interventions, and the implications of these interactions for both men. From Galway to Chengde, Harrison reassesses a crucial moment in Sino-British relations, revealing that some Chinese were well-acquainted with Western culture. However, rising tensions threatened those who navigated both worlds, foreshadowing the Opium Wars. Harrison argues that the Qing court's lack of understanding of the British was not accidental but stemmed from suppressing cultural intermediaries like Li and Staunton. She details Li's influence and the challenges he faced in China, leading to his later years in hiding, while Staunton, after successfully interpreting for the British East India Company, was forced to flee to England due to growing anti-British sentiment. By silencing these knowledgeable figures, the Qing court missed a chance to gain insights that could have averted conflict with Britain. This exploration of two overlooked individuals advocates for cross-cultural understanding in an interconnected world.