![Adam brookes-0118-kittner 20211215 9 7446-bw](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/author/6856/adam_brookes-0118-kittner_20211215_9_7446-bw__main.gif)
![Ranamitter web](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/author/1490/ranamitter_web__main.jpg)
Fragile Cargo: China’s Wartime Race to Save the Treasures of the Forbidden City
Adam Brookes Interviewed by Rana Mitter
Monday, 27 March 2023
4:00pm
1 hour
Lincoln College: Oakeshott Room
£7 - £12.50
Former BBC foreign correspondent Adam Brookes explains how a group of intrepid curators saved China’s finest art from the ravages of the Sino-Japanese War and World War II.
Brookes says the curators of the Forbidden City were faced with an almost impossible challenge of protecting the vast imperial art collections as war approached. The collection contains a million pieces of art including paintings on silk, rare Ming porcelain and the Stone Drums of Qin, which are adorned with 2,500-year-old inscriptions of crucial cultural significance. Brookes shows how the curators under the leadership of Ma Heng spent 16 years transporting artefacts thousands of miles across China during a period of violence, chaos and starvation.
A compelling story of art, war and adventure. Simon Sebag Montefiore
Brookes spent many years as a BBC foreign correspondent. He has been based in Indonesia, China and the United States and has also reported from Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea. Here he talks to University of Oxford professor of the history and politics of modern China and director of the university’s China Centre Professor Rana Mitter, author of China’s Good War: How World War II Is Shaping a New Nationalism.
Event in association with
![The Telegraph](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7538/telegraph_logo__thumb.png)
![University of Oxford](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/1208/oxford-university-logo-2012__thumb.jpg)
![Netflix](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6967/netflix_logo_rgb__thumb.jpg)
![European Union](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/4729/eu_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Cultural Relations Platform](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6492/european-cultural-relations-platform__thumb.jpg)
![BBC World Service](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3524/bbc_news_tile_world_service_rgb__thumb.png)
![Owen Mumford](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5952/om-roundelwordmark-cmyk-(002)__thumb.jpg)
![Bodleian Libraries](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/1586/master_logo_stacked_black_no_uofo-01__thumb.png)
![Oxford Martin School](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/707/oms-sq-quad-cmyk-2__thumb.jpg)
![Oxford Mathematics](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5052/oxford_mathematics_logo_2-compact_rgb__thumb.jpg)
![Spanish Embassy](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6960/logotipo_del_gobierno_de_espana.svg__thumb.png)
![Cervantes Institute, London](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6413/ic_marca2-2__thumb.gif)
![Italian Embassy](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5326/italian_embassy__thumb.jpg)
![The Dorchester Hotels Collection](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5049/dorchester-collection-lock-up_blueblack__thumb.png)
![International Literary Properties](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6519/ilp_blue_rgb__thumb.png)
![Blackwell’s](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/361/blackwells_2__thumb.jpg)
![The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/368/therandolphhotel_logo-01__thumb.gif)
![Old Bank Hotel](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7546/old_bank_hotel__thumb.png)
![Old Parsonage Hotel](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7547/old_parsonage__thumb.png)
![Jim Mellon](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7406/jim-mellon__thumb.jpg)
![John Roberts](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6376/john-roberts-2__thumb.jpg)
![Lady Hatch](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3476/lady-hatch__thumb.jpg)
![Tim and Marion Stevenson](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7407/tim-marion-stevenson__thumb.jpg)
![Martin and Elise Becket Smith](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7408/name-logo-template__thumb.jpg)
![Miles Young](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6300/miles-young__thumb.jpg)
![Masumi and Jonathan Dobson](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6301/masumi-and-jonathan-dobson__thumb.jpg)
![Pank Koria](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6461/pank-koria__thumb.jpg)
![Carole and John Allen](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6302/carole-and-john-allen__thumb.jpg)
![David Isaac](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6453/david-isaac__thumb.jpg)
![Mary and Cecil Quillen](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/4697/mary-and-cecil-quillen-2__thumb.jpg)
![Anna Hunter](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7008/anna-hunter__thumb.jpg)
![Rhys and Kerry Phillip](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7555/rhys-and-kerry-phillip__thumb.jpg)
![Exeter College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3183/exeter_college__thumb.png)
![New College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/4257/new_college__thumb.png)
![Worcester College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/2647/worcester_college__thumb.jpg)
![Lincoln College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3951/lincoln-college__thumb.jpg)
![St Cross College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3925/st_cross_crest__thumb.jpg)
![Trinity College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6377/trinity_college_oxford_coat_of_arms.svg__thumb.png)
![Magdalen College](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7425/magdalen_college__thumb.png)
![Critchleys](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/358/critchleys__thumb.jpg)
![Pasture to Plate](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6498/pasture_to_plate_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Compassion in World Farming](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5788/ciwf_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Human Ecology Project](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7523/human_ecology_project__thumb.png)
![MACROVegan](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7524/macrovegan__thumb.png)
![Symington](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5859/symington__thumb.jpg)
![Princeton University Press](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/2648/princeton_university_press__thumb.jpg)
![European Bank for Reconstruction and Development](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7409/european_bank__thumb.png)
![ROOMS](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7532/rooms-new__thumb.jpg)
![Jewish Book Week](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5463/jewish_literary_foundation__thumb.jpg)
![Foodbuy](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5875/foodbuy__thumb.png)
![Thje Menu Partners](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6992/the_menu_partners__thumb.png)
![Institute of Hospitality](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6883/insitute_of_hospitality__thumb.png)
![Goldmoney Properties](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7553/goldmoney-properties-alt-(002)__thumb.jpg)
![Project People](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6462/project-people-logo-(3)-(002)__thumb.jpg)
![Oxford Brookes University](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/503/brookes_logo_charcoal_spot__thumb.jpg)
![Confucius Institute](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6429/confucius-institute__thumb.jpg)
![Pusey House](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6411/pusey_house__thumb.jpg)
![British Academy](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3587/british_academy__thumb.png)
![Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3992/ochjs_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Oxford United Football Club](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7288/oxford_united__thumb.png)
![Racalia Olive Oil](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6299/racalia-small__thumb.jpg)
![BBC Radio Oxford](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/2067/bbc_oxford_str_cmyk__thumb.gif)
![Bear Ram Elk](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/382/bearramelk_logo__thumb.png)
![Paul Bloomfield Ltd](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6792/paul_bloomfield__thumb.png)
![University of Oxford Alumni Office](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/2025/uni_of_oxford_alumni__thumb.png)
![Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/2236/xford-centre-for-islamic-logo_web__thumb.jpg)
![Conference Oxford](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/311/conference_oxford_with_494__thumb.jpg)
![Felicity Bryan Associates](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/981/fba-logo__thumb.gif)
![CAV Oxford](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/2863/cav_logo_full_colour_rgb__thumb.png)
![The Sheldonian Theatre](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/920/sheldonian_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Oxford University Images](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5054/university_of_oxford_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Oxford University Department for Continuing Education](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/1574/oudce_logo-blue_text_rgb__thumb.png)
![Oxford Georgian Translation Project](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7585/oxford_georgian_translation_project_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Force4Good Consultancy](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7426/force4good__thumb.jpg)
![OX magazine](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/3523/ox_magazine__thumb.png)
![Ox in a Box](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6898/ox_in_a_box__thumb.jpg)
![K T Bruce Photography](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/836/logo____thumb.jpg)
![The Litmus Partnership](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/646/litmuslogowhitemail__thumb.jpg)
![Schoolreaders](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/5597/schoolreaders_large_logo__thumb.jpg)
![Windrush Group](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/7554/windrush_logo_4_col__thumb.jpg)
![James Currey Society](https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/images/logo/6365/james_currey_prize_for_african_literature__thumb.jpg)
-
Tom Fletcher Interviewed by Peter Guttridge
The Ambassador
Lincoln College: Oakeshott Room 12:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Jem Poster and Sarah Burton
Writing the Book you Want to Write
Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room 12:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Diana Darke
The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy
Bodleian: Divinity School 12:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Jeremy Bowen Interviewed by Mary Hockaday
The Making of the Modern Middle East: A Personal History
Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Sian Harding
The Exquisite Machine: The New Science of the Heart
Oxford Martin School: Lecture Theatre 12:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Esme Young Interviewed by Sophie Ratcliffe
Behind the Seams: My Life in Creativity, Friendship and Adventure SOLD OUT
Weston Lecture Theatre 12:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Bodleian Guides
Literary Oxford with the Bodleian
Weston Library Steps 1:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Giles Sparrow Introduced by Martin Rees
Phaenomena: Doppelmayr’s Celestial Atlas
Weston Lecture Theatre 2:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Jasmine Donahaye Interviewed by Jem Poster
Birdsplaining: A Natural History
Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room 2:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Vernon Bogdanor
The Strange Survival of Liberal Britain: Politics and Power before the First World War
Bodleian: Divinity School 2:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Roy Strong Interviewed by Richard Barber
The Stuart Image: An Introduction to English Portraiture 1603 to 1649
Oxford Martin School: Lecture Theatre 2:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Ian Bostridge Interviewed by Suzi Feay
Song and Self: A Singer’s Reflections on Music and Performance
Lincoln College: Oakeshott Room 2:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Sherine Tadros Interviewed by Matthew Stadlen
Taking Sides: A Memoir about Love, War and Changing the World
Bodleian: Divinity School 4:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Nicholas Orme
Tudor Children
Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room 4:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Beatrice Searle and Ellie Evelyn Orrell Chaired by David Isaac
The Power of Art: Stone Will Answer and An Indigo Summer
Weston Lecture Theatre 4:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Ruth Clarke and Annie McDermott Chaired by Polly Barton
Translation Slam
Oxford Martin School: Lecture Theatre 4:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Adam Brookes Interviewed by Rana Mitter
Fragile Cargo: China’s Wartime Race to Save the Treasures of the Forbidden City
Lincoln College: Oakeshott Room 4:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Jonathan Healey
The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England
Oxford Martin School: Lecture Theatre 6:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Martin Rees Interviewed by Nick Higham
Science and Innovation Award: If Science is to Save Us
Sheldonian Theatre 6:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Dennis Grube
Why Governments Get It Wrong And How They Can Get It Right
Weston Lecture Theatre 6:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
David Constantine and Ra Page Interviewed by Jem Poster
The Short Story
Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room 6:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event -
Sam Fowles, Andrew Blick and Adam Wagner Chaired by Mary Hockaday
Upholding Democracy: How we must Fight for our Freedoms and Values
Bodleian: Divinity School 6:00pm Mon 27 Monday, 27 March 2023 See this event