“Wong has made an excellent contribution. . . . His clear and unpretentious writing style and his scholarly thoroughness make this book a most worthwhile achievement.” —Choice

“Wong succeeds at presenting a multifaceted and nuanced study of the imperial gardens, thereby making an important contribution to the growing literature on the various imperial residences of the Qing emperors.” —American Historical Review

“Wong presents a cacophony of contentious historical views along with a great wealth of physical detail in a way that is accessible to the layman.” —South China Morning Post

Noted for its magnificent architecture and extraordinary history, the Yuanming Yuan is China's most famous imperial garden. The complex was begun in the early eighteenth century, and construction continued over the next 150 years. While Chinese historians, and many Chinese in general, view the garden as the paramount achievement of Chinese architecture and landscape design, almost nothing is known about the Yuanming Yuan in the West. A Paradise Lost is the first comprehensive study of the palatial garden complex in a Western language. Written in a broad and engaging style, Young-tsu Wong brings "the garden of perfect brightness" to life as he leads readers on a grand tour of its architecture and history.

Wong begins by inspecting the garden's physical appearance and its architectural elements. He discusses the origin and evolution of these structures and the aesthetics of their design and arrangement. Throughout he refers to maps and original models of individual buildings and other existing gardens of the Ming-Qing period, including the well-preserved Yihe Yuan and the Chengde Summer Mountain Retreat in Rehe. A special feature of the book is its exploration of the activities and daily life of the royal household.

Young-tsu Wong is professor of history at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.