Although this volume of 70 magnificent photographs of the Great Wall of China was published in connection with the 2007 Houston Museum of Fine Arts exhibition by Chen Changfen (b. 1941) it can certainly stand alone as a celebration of the Wall and its 2000-year-long history. Chen started to photograph the Wall 40 years ago and his philosophical (and practical) approach is made clear in an interview with Anne Tucker, curator at Houston. The introduction by Yale sinologist Jonathan Spence overviews the Wall's history and shows how although it has often been viewed negatively in China it has since the late 19th century become a major focus of international interest, national sentiment and invariably, destructive tourist promotion. With sketch map, biographical chronology, technical checklist and index.