Race, Law, and the Chinese Puzzle in Imperial Britain

In the early twentieth century, Chinese immigration became the focal point for racial panic in Britain. Fears about its moral and economic impact - amplified by press sensationalism and lurid fictional portrayals of London's original 'Chinatown' as a den of vice and iniquity - prompted mass arrests, deportations, and mob violence. Even after the neighborhood was demolished and its inhabitants dispersed, the stereotype of the Chinese criminal mastermind and other 'yellow peril' images remained as permanent aspects of British culture. This painstakingly researched study traces the historical evolution of Chinese communities in Britain during this period, revealing their significance in the development of race as a category in British culture, law, and politics.

Author: S. Auerbach
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
Published: 12/27/2012
Pages: 268
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781137281975

About the Author
SASCHA AUERBACH is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA.