Unfabling the East: The Enlightenment's Encounter with Asia

Description

How Enlightenment Europe rediscovered its identity by measuring itself against the great civilizations of Asia During the long eighteenth century, Europe's travelers, scholars, and intellectuals looked to Asia in a spirit of puzzlement, irony, and openness. In this panoramic and colorful book, Jurgen Osterhammel tells the story of the European E

Jurgen Osterhammel is professor of modern and contemporary history at the University of Konstanz. He is a recipient of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, Germany's most prestigious academic award. His books include The Transformation of the World: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century and, with Jan C. Jansen, Decolonization: A Short History (both Princeton). He lives in Freiburg, Germany.

"Unfabling the East is a brilliant new book by Jurgen Osterhammel that goes back to the original sources, and carefully reconstructs the evolution of European views of Asia."---Michael Savage, Quillette "It is impossible to imagine a reader who would not learn a great deal from Osterhammel's book."---Robert Irwin, Literary Review "Osterhammel's nuanced position is sensible and intelligent."---Joan-Pau Rubies, Times Higher Education "A remarkable achievement. . . . In order to appreciate the broader context in which Reland and other sedentary orientalists were working, Jurgen Osterhammel's book is an ideal companion."---Alastair Hamilton, Times Literary Supplement "Unfabling the East is a valuable and timely work."---Edward Weech, Royal Asiatic Society "A masterful survey of travel literature on and theoretical treatments of Asia by Europeans during the age of Enlightenment."---Simon Kow, European Legacy