The Taiping Rebellion, Honestly Told

A True Account of the Taiping Rebellion is a scholarly work by Sheng Xunchang, based on materials he collected about the rebellion. Yet it differs from most academic works: writing for a broader readership, the author spends less time on textual verification and lets the historical facts speak for themselves, directly presenting established research findings to readers. Reading the book feels like delving into the true history of the Taiping Rebellion from within. This is made possible by the author's comprehensive command of the available sources, and sets the book apart from earlier studies of the rebellion. As a result, its account is more complete and objective, correcting past claims that, for lack of evidence, relied on speculation and conjecture, reached one-sided or erroneous conclusions, or indulged in irresponsible arguments to cater to particular trends of thought.