The Opium Wars happened in the 19th century and like the world wars, they came in two parts; the first happened between China and Great Britain and the second pitted Britain and France against China. The USA may not have fought in the war, but they were certainly part of the action. Seems strange that these great countries would be fighting over a narcotic drug, but the Opium war was so much more than that and Captain Granville Loch has a first account of what happened in the First Opium War, because he fought in it. In this book, he gives a detailed record of all that happened during his time in the war, especially noteworthy moments such as the dismantling of the Woo- Sung Forts, the capturing of Chinkiang Foo, and the signing of the Treaty of Nanking. These moments are of historical importance, not just because of the wars, but because their aftermath eventually led to China becoming a Republic. If you are a student of history or you are fascinated by the Chinese dynasty, or you'd simply like to know why these world powers fought over opium, this is the perfect read.