Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS vs The Middle Kingdom: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Mœurs et coutumes, Descriptions et voyages, Manners and customs, Description and travel, Travel, Social life and customs
Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS
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"This new abridgement of the original 1838 edition offers a view of Jacksonian America. Here are Martineau's condemnation of slavery and her championship of abolition and women's rights; her incisive portraits of…
The Middle Kingdom
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First published in 2009. This work by S. Wells Williams is a complete look at the Chinese Empire during the mid-nineteenth century. Subjects include the divisions of the Empire, geographical descriptions, religion and…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS is the quickest read — about 3 hours vs 15 for The Middle Kingdom.
- The Middle Kingdom has the widest readership — 1622 ratings behind its score.
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How to choose
Scores by source
| Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS | The Middle Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.8 (6) | 3.9 (1622) |
| Hardcover | — | 3.4 (8) |
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Reception
| Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS | The Middle Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 6 | 1622 |
| Editions | 40 | 47 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 1651 |
| Reading it now | — | 25 |
| Written reviews | — | 83 |
| Wikipedia attention | — | 1042 |
| Pages | 165 | 810 |
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Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS or The Middle Kingdom?
The Middle Kingdom has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Middle Kingdom 3.9/5, Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS 3.8/5).
Which is shorter to read: Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS or The Middle Kingdom?
Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS (165 pages, ≈ 3 h 03 m); The Middle Kingdom (810 pages, ≈ 15 h 00 m).
Which is harder to read: Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS or The Middle Kingdom?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Retrospect of Western Travel-3VOLS: Challenging; The Middle Kingdom: Demanding.