Cinnabar: A Novel of China

An intricately carved lacquer box holds the clue to the whereabouts of a fabulous Chinese art collection. From the Boxer Rebellion at the beginning of the century to the massacre of the students in Tiananmen Square last spring, the competing forces of tradition and modernism buffet the box's possessors, who protect the location of the treasure in the face of torture and death. Robert Walden, university professor and latest guardian of the box, and beautiful Christina Chang become both hunter and prey in a desperate chase from the United States to Taiwan and mainland China. First novelist Oxnam is president of the Asia Society, so this is rich in details of Chinese history and present-day customs; happily they enhance rather than overpower the story. Though the plot tends to disintegrate into improbability as it rushes toward conclusion, this will appeal to readers interested in China who enjoy romantic adventure.- Elsa Pendleton, Computer Sciences Corp., Ridgecrest, Cal.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.