"Forcibly reminiscent of the work of Jan and Cora Gordon", 1941

The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer of Saturday 1st February 1941 made this comment about a new book:

Through China's Wall. By Graham Peck. (Collins 12s. 6d.)

An engaging record of an unconventional journey through China: a journey which begins in Peking at the beginning of its relaxed period, when even the "impudent" conquest preparations of the Japanese failed to disturb the city's tranquil life, and ends in a Peking whose homes are being searched for offending pictures of Chain Kai-shek, whose policemen and conductors are compulsarily learning Japanese, and where overhead floats a balloon trailing the names of cities newly conquered by the invaders.

Mr. Peck is a diligent observer; his broad canvas is packed with discriminating, illuminating detail.
Enhanced by Mr. Peck's own delightful illustrations, the volume is forcibly reminiscent of the work of Jan and Cora Gordon and has the blessing of Pearl Buck - a blessing which carries much weight.

It's interesting seeing Jan and Cora Gordon being used as a reference. The summary of the book prompts a flashback to a visit to the Lugouqiao (Marco Polo) bridge, stretching across a completely dry Yonding River. This is where the Japanese army attacked on the morning of 8 July 1937.

Three of the hundreds of stone lions on the Lugouqiao (Marco Polo) bridge (March 16th 2005)





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