The Peking Express : The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China

In May 1923, when Shanghai publisher and reporter John Benjamin Powell bought a first-class ticket for the Peking Express, he pictured an idyllic overnight journey on a brand-new train of unprecedented luxuryexactly what the advertisements promised. Seeing his fellow passengers, including mysterious Italian lawyer Giuseppe Musso, a confidante of Mussolini and lawyer for the opium trade, and American heiress Lucy Aldrich, sister-in-law of John D. Rockefeller Jr., he knew it would be an unforgettable trip.

Charismatic bandit leader and populist rabble rouser Sun Mei-yao had also taken notice of the new train from Shanghai to Peking. On the night of Powells trip of a lifetime, Sun launched his plan to make a brazen political statement: he and a thousand fellow bandits descended on the train, capturing dozens of hostages.

Aided by local proxy authorities, the humiliated Peking government soon furiously gave chase. At the bandits mountain stronghold, a five-week siege began.

Brilliantly written, with new and original research, The Peking Express tells the incredible true story of a clash that shocked the worldbecoming so celebrated it inspired several Hollywood moviesand set the course for Chinas two-decade civil war.

PRODUCT DETAILS :

DIMENSION : 6.4 x 1.5 x 9.55 inches
WEIGHT : 558 g