The Lion and the Dragon: Britain’s Opium Wars with China 1839-1860

• A new in-depth military history of the Anglo-Chinese Wars
  
  
• Written in a lively manner as if the author had witnessed events for himself
  
  
• Extensive use of primary and period sources, which present the reader with greater detail on the subject than ever before
  
  
• A large number of period images and maps, many of which have not appeared in print for over a century 

During the mid-19th century, Britain and China would twice go to war over trade and opium in particular.

The Chinese had become addicted to the narcotic, a habit that British merchants were more than happy to feed from their opium poppy fields in India. When the Qing dynasty rulers attempted to supress this trade – due to the serious social and economic problems it caused – the British Government responded with force.

The first conflict, known as the First Anglo-Chinese War or First Opium War (1839-42), ended in British victory and the Treaty of Nanking. However, this treaty was heavily biased in favour of the British, and it would not be long before there was a renewal of hostilities, taking the form of what became known as the Second Anglo-Chinese War or Second Opium War (1856-60).

Again, the second conflict would end with an ‘unequal treaty’ that was heavily biased towards the victor.

The Lion and the Dragon: Britain’s Opium Wars with China 1839-1860 examines the causes and ensuing military history of these tragic conflicts, as well as their bitter legacies.