The Silent Traveller in London
I bought this account by a Chinese poet, calligrapher and painter of life in London in 1938 after seeing it on this site, which is full of extracts from intriguing illustrated books.
Chiang Yee is a charming, modest and funny observer of this alien world, and a man after our own heart in his enthusiasm for London parks, ducks and listening to birdsong while lying in bed. What I really got the book for was his beautiful little paintings of London scenes in the Chinese style - from deer in Richmond Park (click on images to enlarge):
early autumn in Kenwood:
morning mist in St James's park:
to Jubilee night in Trafalgar Square and Coronation night in the underground:
Plus London faces in a public bar:
I'm glad to say that it must have been popular over the years, because you can still buy it in a modern edition here
