Fragile Cargo

A compelling story of art, war and adventure. An extraordinary odyssey of the imperial treasures of the Forbidden City, protected by heroic and remarkable curators… Superb – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of STALIN: THE COURT OF THE RED TSAR
A story of bravery and ingenuity, and equally of the critical role cultural heritage plays in forming and maintaining national identity. * Wall Street Journal *
So much more than a work of art history, Brookes’s book illuminates the exceptional dramas of the Chinese front in the Second World War, a theatre of the conflict that is still insufficiently understood – Julia Lovell * Literary Review *
Adam Brookes has an eye for a great story and knows how to tell it. Fragile Cargo cannot fail to delight… I enjoyed it enormously – John Keay, author of CHINA: A HISTORY
A riveting read… With his meticulously researched and detailed writing, Adam Brookes takes us on a compelling journey through this extraordinary chapter of Chinese history. Fragile Cargo reads like a thriller… Gripping stuff – Alexi Kaye Campbell, writer of feature film WOMAN IN GOLD
Brookes… marries a reporter’s grasp of detail with a novelist’s narrative flair to bring clarity and readability to a complicated period of China’s troubled history * Mail on Sunday *
[A] gripping and meticulously researched account of an epic effort to transport delicate scrolls, paintings and carvings thousands of miles under the thread of bombing and invasion * Times Literary Supplement *

Adam Brookes grew up in the UK and was a journalist with BBC News for many years. As a foreign correspondent he was based in Indonesia, China and the United States. Along the way he reported from many other countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea. He lives in Washington DC.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.