The Colour of the Sky After Rain

An extraordinary memoir of one woman's experiences in China.

Tessa Keswick first travelled to China in 1982 and immediately fell in love with its history, culture and landscape.

Over the next thirty years, she travelled extensively in China, visiting its temples and landmarks, the sites of its most famous battles, and the birthplaces of its best-known poets and philosophers. She also witnessed China's transformation, as hundreds of millions were lifted out of poverty and the country emerged as an economic superpower in waiting.

Keswick's observations of life in China are perceptive and full of insight. Her narrative is rich in microhistories of people encountered and places visited. By presenting a colourfully woven tapestry of contrasting experiences and localities, she allows the reader to glimpse the sheer diversity of China and its vast population.

A multi-textured and revealing survey of the world's largest country, as seen through one woman's eyes, The Colour of the Sky After Rain offers a compelling portrait of China in an age of radical change, and charts the key staging posts in its recent, remarkable history.

'Tessa Keswick provides joyous insights into her life with husband Sir Henry Keswick' Sunday Times.

2020 Head of Zeus