JADE HUNTER
The Story
Jill Howard, a young British Sinologist, is on the
trail of a jade carving. But no ordinary jade carving. Created in Ming Dynasty China, the carving, in the
form of two dragons, becomes the centerpiece in a story of theft, murder, war and high adventure. Through
painstaking research Jill uncovers the sculpture's six-hundred year history as it is sold out of China along the
fabled Silk Road to Arabia and the Holy Land. From there it journeys to Italy to the Medici family who sell it northwards
until it reaches England. Narrowly escaping destruction at the hands of King Henry VIII, the sculpture survives to sail
in a British warship as she goes to war with Napoleon. Finally, Jill discovers the carving has been destroyed in a fire,
but that may not be the end of the story.
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Bronze Incense Burner in the Forbidden City (Photo: G. Graham) |
You can read the Prologue and first chapter of Jade Hunter by going to the
link on the left of this page. You can also go to the Links page and find sites that will tell you about Ming
Dynasty China, Tudor England, the Napoleonic Wars and much more.
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What's New?
Watch this site for new information, additional links and confirmation of
Jade Hunter's publication date in ebook and print formats. I'll also add details of short stories or other items of
mine that are being published elsewhere from time to time.
A Word about the Photographs on this Site
The photographs I've posted on this site show some of the places in China described in Jade Hunter.
The images of HMS Victory are used as an example of a large eighteenth century English warship of the Napoleonic
era, similar to the one appearing in Jade Hunter.
Apart from the old paintings of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, which are well recognized, the photos are
the original work of Roger Cheung, Gordon Graham and Bryce Babcock, who own all rights to the images. Please contact
me if you wish to make use of any of those photographs.
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A Building in the Forbidden City, Beijing |
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Completed in 1420 the Forbidden City was built during the Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 (Photo: G. Graham) |
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In the Forbidden City (Photo: R. Cheung) |
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A gate in the city wall, Xi'an (Photo: R. Cheung) |
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King Henry VIII |
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Anne Boleyn, King Henry's second wife |
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HMS Victory, launched in 1765, showing her three gun decks (Photo: B. Babcock) |
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Part of Victory's Stern Cabin (Photo: B. Babcock) |
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