InthisvividandhighlyoriginalreadingofrecentChinesehistory,XueleiHuangdocumentstheeclecticarrayofsmellsthatpermeatedChineselifefromtheHighQingthroughtotheMaoperiod.Utilisinginterdisciplinarymethodologyandcriticallyengagingwithscholarshipintheexpandingfieldsofsensoryandsmellstudies,sheshowshowthisperiodoftumultuouschangeinChinawasexperiencedthroughthebodyandthesenses.Drawingonunexploredarchivalmaterials,readersareintroducedtothe’smellscapes’ofChinafromtheeighteenthtomid-twentiethcenturyviaperfumes,food,bodyodours,publichealthprojects,consumerismandcosmetics,travelliterature,fictionandpoliticallanguage.ThispioneeringandevocativestudytakesthereaderonasensoryjourneythroughmodernChinesehistory,examiningthewaysinwhichtheexperienceofscentandmodernityhaveintertwined.
