SHANGHAI SOUTH CHINA ALL CHINA - AHKs

Der Kaiser von China
DUMONT | Tilmann Rammstedt | October 2008 | 192 pages, German |
ISBN 978-3832180744
The plot of this fast-moving novel is a bit
convoluted; multiple threads of a story
eventually tie together the entire novel.
Using flashback narration, author Tilman
Rammstedt methodically unveils how the
main protagonist, phlegmatic Keith Stapperpfennig,
ended up hiding from his family
underneath his desk for some days.
Keith is the insecure main character who
is concealing himself. Instead of hiding, he
should be on a sponsored trip with his grandfather to China. This
story line tells how Keith squandered the money given to him by his
siblings for the trip, even before he left. While he hides, more information
is revealed about the strained relationship with his grandfather:
the selfish and womanising guardian.
Another one of these threads consists of letters written by Keith to
his siblings, in which he pretends to be on tour through China. In an
attempt to re-create a phantastic journey through the Middle Kingdom,
Keith extracts hilariously from the Lonely Planet China, which
will be joyfully recognised by everyone who has been to the People’s
Republic. In search of additional content for his letters, Keith also
concocts a lost romance of this Grandfather’s to explain the adventure
to China, which eventually becomes a storyline all on its own.
The novel has plenty of surprises, since essential information is unpredictably
given step by step. The most interesting part is the contraction
between the cool and distant description of Keith’s relationship
towards his grandfather in reality and the warm and loving fiction he
develops in his letters. It shows the deep yearning for his Grandfather’s
affection and gives a devised explanation for his grandfather’s
character and cold-heartedness. Light and slightly quirky in content,
but highly effective in its language – the book won the renowned Ingeborg
Bachmann Prize in 2009 – Der Kaiser von China is a great read
for real and imaginary travellers with a good sense of humour.
China – A History*
Harper Press | John Keay | 2009 | 578 pages, English | ISBN 978-0007221783
John Keay, formerly a special correspondent
for The Economist, sets out to highlight the
history of China ranging from the early Xia
dynasty to the year 1950. Keay impresses
with his ability to illustrate China’s past in
a fluent and narrative way without sacrificing
the inherent complexities of the Middle
Kingdoms’ more turbulent eras.
While guiding the reader through a long and
winding road of Chinese places, dynastic
shifts and cultural developments, Keay refuses to reduce his book to
a talk of one China or one Chinese history. Despite the fact that the
20 th century has been referred to in a somewhat rather ‘compact’ way,
China – A History does have the potential of thoroughly preparing its
readers to counter any “You don’t understand China attack ” with ease.
*Easy to confuse: A similarly titled but different book “China: A History of One of
the World’s Oldest Civilizations” was written by author Harold M. Tanner
NEW BOOKS
www.china.ahk.de
Product Liability in the People’s
Republic of China
Beiten Burkhardt Attorneys-at-Law | 2009 | 64 pages, English and German
This newly published practical
guide from the China practice of
the independent international law
firm, Beiten Burkhardt, describes
the current legal framework for
product liability in China and
provides a basic understanding
of issues that manufacturers and
sellers may face when conducting
business in China.
Dr. Björn Etgen, head of the firm’s
China practice, noted that specific
knowledge regarding the liability
of companies to recall products is
particularly indispensable.
This version differs from other specific product liability guides by providing
a general overview of important laws, regulations and interpretations
for all industries. Beiten Burkhardt was able to compile such a
comprehensive guide due to their advisory on all aspects of commercial
law to corporations, banks, various industry groups, and the public
sector. The Germany-based law firm employs around 370 lawyers
in 13 offices worldwide, including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
An English and German version of the guide can be downloaded or
ordered online free of charge by visiting www.bblaw.com.
2010 April - May 71