Kingdom of Characters: A Tale of Language, Obsession, and Genius in Modern China

In Kingdom of Characters, Jing Tsu explores how China's most daunting challenge was to make its 2,200-year-old language accessible to a globalized, digital world. Follow the bold innovators who adapted the Chinese script to technological advances, from telegraphs to typewriters to smartphones.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

A PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST, "Kingdom of Characters" is a captivating and meticulously researched account of the audacious innovators who revolutionized the Chinese language, propelling China into a formidable superpower. Just a century ago, China was a decaying empire, with literacy confined to a privileged few, lagging behind Western technology. In "Kingdom of Characters," Jing Tsu reveals that China's greatest challenge lay in making its ancient 2,200-year-old writing system, known for its complexity and intimidation to both natives and foreigners, accessible to a globalized, digital world.

The book follows the courageous individuals who adapted the Chinese script and its profound value system to the technological advancements that defined the twentieth century and beyond. From the telegraph to the typewriter to the smartphone, these innovators played a pivotal role in shaping the world as we know it. From the exiled reformer who risked their life to advocate for Mandarin as a national language to the imprisoned computer engineer who devised input codes for Chinese characters on the lid of a teacup, generations of scholars, missionaries, librarians, politicians, inventors, nationalists, and revolutionaries recognized the urgency and far-reaching consequences of their mission.

"Kingdom of Characters" is a captivating narrative that features larger-than-life characters and an exhilarating storyline. It offers an astonishingly original perspective on one of the most significant transformations of the twentieth century. Through its vivid portrayal of the individuals and events that shaped China's linguistic and technological evolution, the book sheds light on the complex interplay between language, culture, and power. It serves as a reminder of the immense impact that language can have on the course of history and the potential for individuals to reshape the world through their innovative ideas and unwavering determination.

Weight: 248g
Dimension: 128 x 196 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141985312