This comprehensive but concise narrative of China since the eighteenth century builds its story around the delicate relationship between central government and local communities. The author argues that China's modern history has not wholly adhered to the ideal of the "unwobbling pivot", with China as a wholly harmonious society based on principles of stability. Instead Crossley argues that developments can be explained through an understanding of China's surprising swings between centralization and decentralization, between local initiative and central authoritarianism. The author's approach is broad enough to provide a full introduction to modern Chinese history. Students new to the subject will be supported with timelines, maps, illustrations, and extensive notes for further reading, while those with a background in Chinese will find an underlying theme in the narrative addressing long-standing interpretive issues.