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The Chinese tradition mentioned by the Mandarin was that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within the calendar year. Read summary of The Chinese Statue
The Chinese tradition mentioned by the Mandarin was that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within the calendar year.
Read summary of The Chinese Statue
See lessThe narrator called Sir Alexander Heathcote an exact man because as well as being a gentleman, he was an exact man in his behavior. He was exactly six foot- three and a quarter inches tall, rose at seven o’clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely fRead more
The narrator called Sir Alexander Heathcote an exact man because as well as being a gentleman, he was an exact man in his behavior. He was exactly six foot- three and a quarter inches tall, rose at seven o’clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely four minutes, two pieces of toast with one spoonful of Cooper’s marmalade and drink one cup of China tea. He would then take a hackney carriage from his home in 11 Cadogan Gardens at exactly eight-twenty and arrive at the Foreign Office at promptly eight-fifty-nine, returning home on the stroke of six o’ clock.
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When the statue finally reached into the hands of Alex Heathcote, he proved out to be a foil to his great grandfather, Sir Alexander Heathcote. Alex turned out to be a selfish, spoiled little brat. He could never hold down a job for a few weeks and when casinos opened in Britain, Alex was convincedRead more
When the statue finally reached into the hands of Alex Heathcote, he proved out to be a foil to his great grandfather, Sir Alexander Heathcote. Alex turned out to be a selfish, spoiled little brat. He could never hold down a job for a few weeks and when casinos opened in Britain, Alex was convinced that he had found the ideal way of earning a living without actually having to do any work. He thought he would solve all his problems by winning but he lost. He kept on losing yet he didn’t stop gambling. Finally the worst came to worst, Alex had gambled away all his money and was in a great debt. To pay back the debt, Alex caved in and decided to sell the family heirloom, the Chinese Statue. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue.
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See lessAlexander Heathcote acquired the statue from an old craftsman in China. He was so fond of the statue that he wrote it down in his will that the statue must be passed on generation to generation and mustn’t be sold until and unless the family’s honour was at stake. After his death, his first-born, MaRead more
Alexander Heathcote acquired the statue from an old craftsman in China. He was so fond of the statue that he wrote it down in his will that the statue must be passed on generation to generation and mustn’t be sold until and unless the family’s honour was at stake. After his death, his first-born, Major James Heathcote came into possession of the Ming Emperor. The colonel was not a man to disobey his father so he, too, wrote in his will following his father’s wishes about the heirloom. After the colonel’s death, the statue was bequeathed to his first-born, the Reverend Alexander Heathcote. He admired the Ming statue and before his death remembered to write clear instructions about the statue in his will. It then passed on to Captain James Heathcote, whose untimely death passed the statue into the hands of his then two-year old son, Alex Heathcote. Alex was a good-for-nothing, spendthrift and a selfish person who gambled away all his money. Unable to overcome his debt, he decided to sell the statue as his family’s honour was at stake. This was how the statue found its way to the auction room where the narrator bought it.
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See lessThe 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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See lessSir 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.
Read summary of The Chinese Statue
See lessAlex 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.
Read summary of The Chinese Statue
See lessThe 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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See lessWhen 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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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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