The Wise Man from the West
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Condition: Good to fair. Jacket: good, worn/faded (refer to image). Page Condition: Good - possible tanning. Markings: possible previous owner inscription.
In this masterfully researched and elegantly written biography, Vincent Cronin reconstructs the extraordinary life of Father Matteo Ricci, the Jesuit missionary who bridged the vast cultural chasm between late Renaissance Europe and Ming Dynasty China. Arriving in 1582, Ricci did not merely attempt to proselytize; he immersed himself in the language, science, and philosophy of the scholar-official class. By presenting himself not as a foreign "barbarian" but as a fellow man of learning, he gained unprecedented access to the Imperial Court, leaving behind a legacy that would echo for centuries as the first truly successful, documented encounter between East and West.Cronin’s narrative possesses the tension and pacing of a historical novel, vividly capturing the romance, the intellectual ambition, and the ultimate, poignant tragedy of Ricci’s mission. More than a mere account of a religious endeavor, this book provides a profound meditation on the nature of empathy, the limits of understanding, and the enduring power of cross-cultural dialogue. It remains a essential text for any reader interested in the intersection of faith, technology, and the complex history of ideas during one of the most intellectually fertile periods in global history.
Author: Vincent Cronin
Format: Hardback
Genre: Biography
Condition remarks:
Condition: Good to fair. Jacket: good, worn/faded (refer to image). Page Condition: Good - possible tanning. Markings: possible previous owner inscription.
In this masterfully researched and elegantly written biography, Vincent Cronin reconstructs the extraordinary life of Father Matteo Ricci, the Jesuit missionary who bridged the vast cultural chasm between late Renaissance Europe and Ming Dynasty China. Arriving in 1582, Ricci did not merely attempt to proselytize; he immersed himself in the language, science, and philosophy of the scholar-official class. By presenting himself not as a foreign "barbarian" but as a fellow man of learning, he gained unprecedented access to the Imperial Court, leaving behind a legacy that would echo for centuries as the first truly successful, documented encounter between East and West.Cronin’s narrative possesses the tension and pacing of a historical novel, vividly capturing the romance, the intellectual ambition, and the ultimate, poignant tragedy of Ricci’s mission. More than a mere account of a religious endeavor, this book provides a profound meditation on the nature of empathy, the limits of understanding, and the enduring power of cross-cultural dialogue. It remains a essential text for any reader interested in the intersection of faith, technology, and the complex history of ideas during one of the most intellectually fertile periods in global history.