A popular history of the Boxer Rebellion, which took place a
century ago this year, brings its events to life Preston (A
First Rate Tragedy, 1998) draws upon the testimony of primary
sources and eyewitnesses to recapitulate the Chinese uprising
that caught the world off guard at the turn of the century. Long
perceived by Westerners as a plum ripe for the picking, China in
the 19th century was the object of much attention from
foreigners and foreign powers alike—who introduced railroads,
telegraphs, and Christian missionaries into the country. The
nativist movement that arose in response was characterized by
the practice of martial arts (the “Boxers”) and the employment
of arcane rituals meant to make one invulnerable to bullets. The
first signs of danger were the murders of Christian missionaries
and Chinese converts in rural areas. The Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi
backed the insurgents, and Westerners in Peking were rapidly cut
off from outside aid. The siege of the European embassies by the
Chinese army, the eve