Piano Starts Here by Robert A Parker
Based on new documents, especially von Siebold's correspondence (including letters to his wife Taki), written advice and draft treaties which were placed in the public domain in 2002 by the Brandenstein-Zeppelin family, the author argues that such is their significance a full re-evaluation of von Siebold's advisory role vis a vis the United States, Russia and the Netherlands in particular, both before and after the successful opening of Japan in the 1850s is now justified. This new study challenges the conventional Western scholarly view that the key figures involved in the opening of Japan were confined to the US Navy's Commodore Matthew Perry, and the diplomats Townsend Harris of the US and Rutherford Alcock of the UK. A close examination of the new sources suggests otherwise and also puts von Siebold's agenda to 'save' Japan from being overtaken by what he referred to as the colonial and commercial ambitions of the West's great maritime nations in a new light. The author also takes pains to debunk the long-held view that von Siebold was a Russian spy. Even so, it is accepted that von Siebold remains a controversial figure whose role was more often than not 'tinged with considerable selfish aspirations and a belief in his personal infallibility'.
Robert B. Parker was the author of more than fifty books. He died in January 2010.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780375839658 |
| ISBN 10 | 0375839658 |
| Title | Piano Starts Here |
| Author | Robert A Parker |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Schwartz & Wade Books |
| Year published | 2008-01-15 |
| Number of pages | 40 |
| Prizes | Winner of Schneider Family Book Award (Children's) 2009 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |