Jules Verne: Book: Tribulations of a Chinaman in China

This page last updated: January 21, 2019

Les Tribulations d'un Chinois en Chine - 1879

The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China - 1879

Image used with permission from
Project Jules Verne Illustrations by Bernhard Krauth, www.jules-verne-club.de

Bibliographic Reference	French (J-M Margot)	Jules Verne Encyclopedia	Myers Bibliography	Galagher Bibliography
	TC	V020	M55	A46

Alternate English Titles:

Adventures of a Chinaman

Tribulation of a Chinaman

Tribulations of a Chinaman

Tribulations of a Chinaman in China

Tribulations of a Chinese Gentleman

Plot Synopsis: (courtesy of D. Kytasaari - http://epguides.com/djk/JulesVerne/works.shtml)

Kin-Fo, a well to do Chinese man living in Shang-Hai, is accused by his good friend Wang of not having had any discomforts in his life that would make him appreciate true happiness. When Kin-Fo, receives news that his fortune is lost, he arranges for an insurance policy to be taken out on his life that would cover his death, even by suicide; which he is planning on committing. When Kin-Fo can't bring himself to end his own life, he contracts Wang to do it, by even giving him a letter that will exonerate him of the deed. Then Wang disappears and then Kin-Fo feels much discomfort, especially when he is informed that his fortunes are not lost. He travels around China, hoping to avoid being murdered before the contract expires. His discomfort increases when a note from Wang arrives saying that he regrets not being able to fulfill the contract, so he has turned it over to his old friend Lao-Shen, a notorious character.

Book Collecting Information:

First US
"In Wraps"
Edition

(See also, next entry)

First Appearance in English

Jules Verne Encyclopedia:
"On September 25, 1879, Lee and Shepard copyrighted Tribulations of a Chinaman, and two deposit copies following on October 17."

is the below listing the above item?

The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China
1880
Boston: Lee and Shepard, Publishers
New York: Charles T. Dillingham.

Translator: From the French of Jules Verne
by Virginia Champlin

in Wraps

On back of title page:
"Copyright, 1879 By Lee and Shepard."

and

"Franklin Press:
Electrotyped and Printed by
Rand, Avery, & Co.,
Boston"

on page after the title page.
"This Translation
is Gratefully Dedicated
to
Mr. FRANCIS A. NICHOLS,
who was an editor
gave me my first literary opportunities."

Ad on inside of cover:
"Uniform with this Volume
A Tight Squeeze:
The Adventures of a Gentleman,
who on a wager of
Ten Thousand Dollars
undertook to go from
New York to New Orleans
in Three Weeks,
Without money or the assistance of Friends.
Cloth, $1.00. Paper. 50 Cents.
Lee & Shepard, Publishers, Boston."

Ed Note: The Boston Globe
Thurs., 28 Aug 1879
"Everybody can get A Tight Squeeze in bookstores, Saturday"

(and ads all the way through Dec 6, 1879)

AND

New York Daily Herald
Mon, 6 Oct 1879
Jules Verne's Chinese Romance
Jules Verne's "Tribulations of a CHinaman in China" has been transalated into English by Virginia Champlin and will be published in November by Lee & Shepard"
and Nov 19, 1879 - Paper cover, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00

AND

in Boston Post, Boston, Sat 18 Oct. 1879
a great ad!

"Wang! Wang! Wang!
Tribulations
of a
Chinaman!
By Jules Verne.
16 mo. CLoth $1.00. Paper, 50 cents.
Translated from the French by Miss Virginia Champlin. Just published in America.
For Sale Everywhere.
Lee & Shepard, Publishers, Boston.
Kin-Fo! Kin-Fo! Kin-Fo!"

Hmmmmm:
Lastly, a vote against 1st edition (EXCEPT for the 1880 date on Title page!):
Boston Post, 16 Dec 1881
The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China
from the French of Jules Verne. By VIrginia Champlin, Boston: Lee & Shepard. New York: Charles T. Dillingham. Price, $1.50.

First US Edition

First Appearance in English

Cloth binding of above!

The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China
1880
Lee & Shepard / Charles T. Dillingham
Boston / New York

Published October 1879
Translated by Virginia Champlin

First UK Editon:

The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China
1880
Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington
London

Published November 1880,
but with Publisher's catalogue dated April 1880

Pictorial Grey-Blue cloth

First US Illustrated Edition:

The Tribulations of a Chinaman
1881
E. P. Dutton
New York

Published in October 1880
Translated by Ellen E. Frewer
Illustrated by L. Benett

Other Editions:

nd - (1880)	*Tribulations of a Chinaman* nd - published Nov 1879 George Munro New York Seaside Library, No. 647
1882	*The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China* 1882 Lee & Shepard / Charles T. Dillingham Boston / New York 50 Illustrations Translated by Virginia Champlin
1883	The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China 1883 Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington Crown Buildings, 188, Fleet Street London Translated by Ellen E. Frewer Illustrated by L Benet Third Edition Images courtesy of Andrew Cox Rare Books
1889	The Adventures of a Chinaman 1889 Lee and Shepard Boston 50 illustrations Translated by Virginia Champlin Lee+Shepards "White Black & Gold Series" (although no mention of this in the book)
? circa 1890	*Tribulations of a Chinaman* ?circa 1890 Sampson Low London "Pears' Soap" edition
nd	The Tribulations of a Chinaman nd Sampson Low London New and Cheaper Edition Red and Blue covers shown
nd	The Tribulations of a Chinaman nd Sampson Low London
	The Tribulations of a Chinese Gentleman 1963 ARCO Publications London Fitzroy Edtion Dustjacket Collection Andrew Nash
	The Tribulations of a Chinese Gentleman 1963 Associated Booksellers Westport Connecticut Fitzroy Edtion Dustjacket Collection Andrew Nash