On a Chinese screen vs Paul Kelver: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: English Authors, Authors, Biography & Memoir
On a Chinese screen
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On a Chinese Screen was first published in 1922 by Heinemann Publishers, London. Its 58 short vignettes are based on Maugham’s travels along the Yangtze River from 1919 to 1920. Although later editions of the book added…
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Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Paul Kelver has the widest readership — 39 ratings behind its score.
Scores by source
| On a Chinese screen | Paul Kelver | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.8 (6) | 3.8 (39) |
Reception
| On a Chinese screen | Paul Kelver | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 6 | 39 |
| Editions | 41 | 66 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 12 | 171 |
| Reading it now | — | 9 |
| Written reviews | — | 5 |
| Wikipedia attention | — | 190 |
| Pages | 242 | 322 |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: On a Chinese screen or Paul Kelver?
On a Chinese screen has the higher combined reader rating across sources (On a Chinese screen 3.8/5, Paul Kelver 3.8/5).
Which is shorter to read: On a Chinese screen or Paul Kelver?
On a Chinese screen is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: On a Chinese screen (242 pages, ≈ 4 h 29 m); Paul Kelver (322 pages, ≈ 5 h 58 m).
Which is harder to read: On a Chinese screen or Paul Kelver?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — On a Chinese screen: Challenging; Paul Kelver: Challenging.