So, what's this book actually about? In the early 1920s, W. Somerset Maugham traveled up the Yangtze River and into the heart of China. 'On a Chinese Screen' is the literary snapshot album from that trip. Don't expect a continuous plot. Instead, it's a series of fifty-eight short character studies and scenes, some just a page long. We drift from a crowded harbor to a remote mission station, from a diplomat's stuffy drawing room to a smoky opium den.

The Story

There isn't a single narrative thread. Think of it as a train journey where you get to peer into the lives of your fellow passengers for a few minutes at a time. You'll meet Mr. Pete, the American missionary whose zeal has curdled into bitterness. You'll observe the absurd formality of colonial officials maintaining British 'standards' in the middle of nowhere. You'll glimpse the silent endurance of Chinese laborers and the cunning of merchants. The 'story' is in the accumulation of these moments, painting a picture of a country in flux, where ancient traditions bump up against modern ambitions and foreign influence.

Why You Should Read It

I love this book because Maugham is a master observer, not a judge. He shows you the loneliness, the hypocrisy, the kindness, and the strangeness on both sides. His prose is clean and direct—no fluffy descriptions. He captures a person's entire life in a few telling details: the way they pour tea, the pride in a faded uniform, the look in their eyes. It's incredibly human. You won't get a history lesson, but you'll feel what it was like to be there. Some sketches are laugh-out-loud funny in their irony; others are quietly devastating. It’s this mix that makes it so compelling.

Final Verdict

This is perfect for readers who love character-driven writing and armchair travel. If you enjoyed the sharp sketches in Orwell's 'Down and Out in Paris and London' or the keen cultural observation in anything by Jan Morris, you'll feel right at home. It's also a great 'dipper' book—you can read it in short bursts. Just be warned: Maugham's gaze is unflinching. He doesn't romanticize the 'mysterious East' or glorify the Western adventurer. He just shows you people, in all their complicated, fascinating reality. A true classic of travel writing that hasn't lost its bite.