Friends of Sir Robert Hart: Three Generations of Carrall Women in China

摘要

Mary Tiffen, a researcher into the social and economic issues arising from agricultural change in Africa and the Middle East, here explores, in print, her family history. In the process of researching this volume, she delved deep into the life of Sir Robert Hart (1835-1911), who served China as the Inspector General of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service (CMCS) for almost 50 years. However, bringing an intriguing perspective on Hart's life, Tiffen sets out a larger ambition than telling a straightforward family story. Rather, she seeks to examine the nature of the Victorian family and its associated social expectations and conventions.