cover image The Terracotta Warriors: Exploring the Most Intriguing Puzzle in Chinese History

The Terracotta Warriors: Exploring the Most Intriguing Puzzle in Chinese History

Edward Burman. Pegasus, $27.95 (288p) ISBN 978-1-68177-796-2

Burman (Xi’an Through European Eyes) places the famed terracotta warriors—more than 8,000 life-size terracotta sculptures depicting the army of the first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, that were buried with him—in historical and cultural context while providing the latest research and thought about them in this accessible and thorough work. After an introduction in which he briefly describes the discovery of the terracotta warriors in 1974 and the subsequent archaeological work on the entire mausoleum complex, Burman divides his text into three segments. In the first, he imagines the life of one of the soldiers in Qin Shihuang’s army who might have inspired the clay figures, then sketches the period, including the first emperor’s life from 259 until 210 BCE. The final section takes a closer look at the manufacture of the various artifacts and current efforts at preservation. The middle section—discussing the mysteries of the terracotta warriors in such chapters as “Who Built the Army, and How?” and “What Were the Warriors For?”—may have the most appeal to general readers. By covering all of these aspects, Burman provides a fascinating look at what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. Any reader interested in China, ancient history, or archaeology will find this rewarding. [em]Agent: Jessica Purdue, Orion. (Aug.) [/em]