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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The Chinese Statue follows the technique of a parallel story meaning having a story within a story. The ‘story’ within the main story tells the readers how the statue found its way to the auction room. The main story occurs at London, in the present time where Alex is a gambler, whiling away his timRead more

    The Chinese Statue follows the technique of a parallel story meaning having a story within a story. The ‘story’ within the main story tells the readers how the statue found its way to the auction room. The main story occurs at London, in the present time where Alex is a gambler, whiling away his time and wealth and as a final resort to save himself, sold his family heirloom which is the statue. The narrator is an omniscient one, present in all perspectives, telling the story of how the statue is acquired and found its way to the auction room where it is kept at the present.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    Sir Alexander Heathcote was an exact man throughout his life. He led a disciplined life and rose from one position to another. He started his career from a shared desk job at the Foreign Office to finally being the minister in Peking. He had a great interest in art and history and was a lover of colRead more

    Sir Alexander Heathcote was an exact man throughout his life. He led a disciplined life and rose from one position to another. He started his career from a shared desk job at the Foreign Office to finally being the minister in Peking. He had a great interest in art and history and was a lover of collecting artifacts. Sir Alexander was a man of words which was seen when he repaid the generosity of the old craftsman within one calendar year. He lived a comfortable life where he was respected for who he was. On the other hand, Alex Heathcote was quite a foil to Alexander Heathcote. He lived a reckless life and was selfish and self-centered. He gambled his entire wealth and whiled away his time. His mother spoiled him to such an extent that he never worked but only gambled away to his heart’s content. He fell into a great debt and unable to overcome it, sold the family heirloom.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    Alex Heathcote, the great-great-grandson of Sir Alexander Heathcote, was responsible for bringing the Chinese statue to the auction room. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    Alex Heathcote, the great-great-grandson of Sir Alexander Heathcote, was responsible for bringing the Chinese statue to the auction room.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder

    The narrator of the story appears to be a lover of art. His presence as a bidder at Sotheby’s Auction House to buy a piece of art suggests his love and admiration for art. He is even interested to know the history of the art pieces that are there including the history of the Chinese Statue and how iRead more

    The narrator of the story appears to be a lover of art. His presence as a bidder at Sotheby’s Auction House to buy a piece of art suggests his love and admiration for art. He is even interested to know the history of the art pieces that are there including the history of the Chinese Statue and how it came there. At the end, he even buys the statue for seven hundred and twenty guineas shows the fact that he is indeed a lover of art.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder

    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in China, he used to spend as much time it was possible to travel the country, with a Mandarin. One day, he visited the workshop of a talented craftsman who showed him an exquisite piece of art. The little statue, no more than six inches in height, was of the EmperorRead more

    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in China, he used to spend as much time it was possible to travel the country, with a Mandarin. One day, he visited the workshop of a talented craftsman who showed him an exquisite piece of art. The little statue, no more than six inches in height, was of the Emperor Kung and as fine and example of Ming as the minister had seen. He then uttered the most undiplomatic words he had ever said that how he wished that statue was his. Sir Alexander regretted voicing his thoughts immediately as he heard the Mandarin translate them, because he knew only too well the old Chinese tradition that if an honoured guest requests something the giver will grow in the eyes of his fellow men by parting with it. A sad look came over the face of the little old craftsman as he handed the statue to Sir Alexander but the latter tried to decline it saying he was only joking. But at the end, he was bound to take the statue but he made it a point that he repay the generosity of the craftsman within a calendar year. This was how Sir Alexander Heathcote acquired the statue.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    Alex Heathcote sold the statue to save himself from his great debt. Alex gambled away all his wealth and was unable to pay the money for the debt. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    Alex Heathcote sold the statue to save himself from his great debt. Alex gambled away all his wealth and was unable to pay the money for the debt. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    According to the old Chinese custom that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within a calendar year. So in order to reciprocate the old man’s generosity, Sir Alexander Heathcote planned out a surprise for him. First he transferred his funds and then with help and permissiRead more

    According to the old Chinese custom that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within a calendar year. So in order to reciprocate the old man’s generosity, Sir Alexander Heathcote planned out a surprise for him. First he transferred his funds and then with help and permission of the Queen, executed his plan. Almost a year to the day the minister, accompanied by the Mandarin, set out again from Peking for the village of the Ha Li Chuan. On arriving there, he requested the old man to accompany him on a short journey . They travelled for two hours up a thin winding path into the hills behind the craftsman’s workshop and only stopped when they reached a hollow in the hill from which there was a magnificent view of the valley all the way down to Ha Li Chuan. In the hollow stood a newly completed small white house of the most perfect proportions. Two stone lion dogs, tongues hanging over their lips, guarded the front entrance. This was gift, sanctioned by the Queen, given to the old craftsman for his generosity to Sir Alexander.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in the great halls of the Imperial Palace, he walked as slowly as possible, taking in the magnificent collection of ivory and jade statues which were scattered casually around the building much in the way Cellini and Michelangelo today lay stacked against each otherRead more

    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in the great halls of the Imperial Palace, he walked as slowly as possible, taking in the magnificent collection of ivory and jade statues which were scattered casually around the building much in the way Cellini and Michelangelo today lay stacked against each other in Florence. As his ministerial appointment was only for three years, Sir Alexander took no leave, but preferred to use his time to put the Embassy behind him and travel on horseback into the outlying districts to learn more about the country and its people.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    The Chinese Statue was auctioned as it was a valuable piece of art. Even though the statue was fake, it was a beautiful ivory statue and its base was priceless. Hence, after Alex sold it, the statue found its way to the auction room as an item to bid upon by the art lovers. Read summary of The ChineRead more

    The Chinese Statue was auctioned as it was a valuable piece of art. Even though the statue was fake, it was a beautiful ivory statue and its base was priceless. Hence, after Alex sold it, the statue found its way to the auction room as an item to bid upon by the art lovers.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
    This answer was edited.

    A Mandarin always accompanied Sir Alexander Heathcote during his stay in China. He acted as interpreter and guide for Sir Alexander as the latter was new to the place and to the language spoken there. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    A Mandarin always accompanied Sir Alexander Heathcote during his stay in China. He acted as interpreter and guide for Sir Alexander as the latter was new to the place and to the language spoken there.

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