meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The China History Podcast

Ep. 139 | Sir Edmund Backhouse (Part 3)

The China History Podcast

Laszlo Montgomery

History, Society & Culture

4.81.2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 July 2014

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, we will conclude our CHP overview of the life of Sir Edmund Backhouse, 2nd Baronet. In this 3rd part of the series, we'll look at the last couple of decades of Backhouse's life. Backhouse remains in Beijing amidst all the turmoil going on during the Japanese invasion and the lead-up to WWII. In his final years, Backhouse will write a memoir that will engrave his name forever in the footnotes of Chinese history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Spark your creativity with the Sims. Sometimes you might feel like you're not creative

0:07.0

and you have to go in search of your creative spark again. Maybe this is catching up with creative

0:11.9

friends, experimenting with a new look or trying out a new recipe.

0:16.0

And thanks to The Sims, inspiration is just one game and one spark away.

0:21.0

Ready to spark something? Download the Sims 4 and play for free.

0:27.0

Hi everyone. Welcome back to the exciting conclusion of the life of Sir Edmund Trelawny

0:35.5

Backhouse, second Baronet. I thought we'd finish his life in two parts but this one went into

0:41.5

double overtime.

0:43.4

In October 1932, Backhouse and Bland resumed their correspondence after a long period of silence

0:50.7

caused in part by Morrison's obsession to hold and control Backhouse all to himself

0:56.6

and to destroy the relationship with Backhouse and Bland that they collaborated on those two books was a real insult to Morrison.

1:04.5

So Backhouse and Bland hadn't talked for years.

1:08.2

But now Backhouse and Bland were again corresponding.

1:11.6

Backhouse mentioned to Bland that these days he quote

1:15.0

had gone native by wearing Chinese dress as is my habit now. I am able to go about

1:20.7

with delightful freedom and in company with Chinese friends to pass as an indigent."

1:25.6

Bekhaus had gone native in 1921 and showed up in London wearing traditional Chinese dress and a flowing white beard.

1:34.0

He was quite a sight to behold.

1:36.7

The main thing that Backhouse was interested to talk to Bland about

1:40.9

was the matter of Lillian Ying's diary.

1:44.4

I mentioned him in part one.

1:45.7

Lillian Ying is the most famous eunuch of all time and perhaps was the richest.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Laszlo Montgomery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Laszlo Montgomery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.