Remembering Jonathan Spence

On Christmas Day, Jonathan Spence, the leading light of Western sinology and my former professor, passed away. Over a long and distinguished career, Professor Spence produced numerous books (not to mention countless essays and articles) on Chinese history. Unlike most other academics, he wrote in a uniquely engaging narrative style that made many of his works highly accessible even to general readers. "The Search for Modern China" in particular became a bestseller. His uncanny ability to emp...