The Immobile Empire

The astonishing history of Britain's grand, ill-fated expedition to open China to Western trade, The Immobile Empire is a historical tour de force that recaptures the extraordinary experience of two worlds in collision. In 1793, a group of nearly 700 men attempted to establish relations with China. But the refusal of their leader to "kowtow" to the emperor was the first signal that the empires would fail to see eye to eye. Illustrations.