The drugs, dreams and the making of China Lovell, Julia 1975- creator text London Picador 2012 monographic xxiv, 456 p., [32] p. of plates : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. (some col.) ; 20 cm. Details the 1839 Opium War and the red tape, incompetence, and political cronyism that surrounded China's first conflict with the West and how these events fueled the foundation for modern Chinese nationalism. Opium and China -- Daoguang's decision -- Canton spring -- Opium and lime -- The first shots -- "An explanatory declaration" -- Sweet-talk and sea-slug -- Qishan's downfall -- The siege of Canton -- The unEnglished Englishman -- Xiamen and Zhoushan -- A winter in Suzhou -- The fight for Qing China -- The Treaty of Nanjing -- Peace and war -- The Yellow Peril -- The national disease -- Communist conspiracies -- Conclusion -- Principal characters -- Timeline. Julia Lovell. Originally published: London: Picador, 2011. Includes bibliographical references and index. China Foreign relations Great Britain China History Opium War, 1840-1842 Great Britain Foreign relations China Great Britain History Victoria, 1837-1901 9780330457484 (pbk.) : 6311