Henrietta Harrison

About the Author

Henrietta Harrison is a distinguished historian and sinologist whose work illuminates the intricate lives of ordinary people within the grand sweep of Chinese history. With a focus on the transformative social and political changes of the late Qing and Republican eras, she draws on meticulous archival research and personal narratives to bring forgotten voices to light. Her acclaimed book, The Man Awakened from Dreams: One Man’s Life in a North China Village, 1857-1942, chronicles the extraordinary journey of Hu Pinyuan, a scholar-official navigating the upheavals of imperial decline, warlord rule, and revolutionary fervor in rural Hebei. Harrison's scholarship bridges academic rigor with compelling storytelling, offering profound insights into how global forces reshaped local worlds. A professor at the University of Oxford, she continues to explore themes of identity, power, and resilience in modern China through her ongoing research and publications.