Colossus Unsung – the Life of Edward Selby Little
Posted: April 16th, 2012 | 17 Comments »A book I noticed on Xlibris – a bit worrying as I assume being published by Xlibris means it couldn’t get published anywhere else. Anyway Little was an interesting character who does deserve a biography as his life covered an interesting time for foreigners in China. I don’t know why it’s called anything quite as grand as Colossus Unsung though!
Edward Selby Little was an extraordinary Victorian who lived through the reign of four monarchs and affected events on three continents. The loose cannon feared by all administrations, he faced down Chinese bandits and British bureaucrats alike to change the course of history. Yet, incredibly, his legacy is almost unheard of, his story untold. Truly, until now, a colossus unsung. The author is an award-winning journalist and investigative reporter who spent several years researching the life of this incredible character.
I’ve read the whole book, it’s a sad story, firstly working for god, then for a big company, thirdly for OZ government, because he was a great person, some red eyes did’t enjoy him, in his late sixty, chose New Zealand for his last resout, this time worked for himself, bulit a seaside mansion,
not too long he fareweledl the earth. Nowday that buliding becomes a community center, no clue shows a former resident, I totally understand the title”Colossus unsung”, perhaps only god knows him.
Every morning I walk out of my front door and sometimes (not that often I have to admit) I glance at his photograph sitting between the two Chinese Dynasty leaders (the end of an era) and wonder how I can ever make a difference to our world the way he did in his way in his time. I get the feeling, as you rightly say, he was known fully only by God. Or at the very least he would have liked to be! I am proud to be his great great granddaughter.
I have always been fascinated with his role in developing the mountain retreat of Kuling. First its role as a retreat from the heat of the plains Shanghai … My grandmother would not have survived (and hence I wouldn’t be here now!) is he hadn’t! So afraid he was that she would die in the heat, that he took her up to the mountain for “cooling” or “Kuling”. Later came the Americans and the writers .. Pearl someone who wrote a best seller .. When I finally have the time (or courage!) to write a book, I always fancied I would rent a house in Kuling and write from there. Our family photographs in the Royal Geographical Society ( safest place) tell many stories and show wonderful tales of life then and I long to go and see the places they swam in… Now most of all I long to see the Bell or some such monument which symbolises the five (or so) religions which somehow peacefully co-existed at that time. How some far off monument can reflect a concept very dear to my heart now amazes me. Anyway enough waffle from me … I just happened to be googling my great great grandfather who “pops” into my mind from time to time and I saw this blog for the first time.
I am proud to be his great granddaughter. I am thankful for Bob Malloy’s work, which has brought my great grandfather to life for me. God had his days in His hands, as He has had mine, and on the other side we shall know all. Meantime, I am grateful for this book.
You are a great person, Edward little. Thank you for what you had done for Chinese people in China. More and more people will remenber and admire you.
I would like to contact Jennifer Whitman to inform her what the un-Reverend Edward Litle did to my great grandmother (Caroline maddock Hart), after making “ESL” power-of-attorney over her late husband’s business interests in China. ESL later selling off these interests and pocketing the monies = theft and leaving my great grandmother a pauper to raise seven children, alone.
I would like to contact Bob Molloy to say hello, to obtain a copy of Colossus Unsung, and to get his response to Stanley Crawford’s comments regarding ESL’s “theft” of Caroline’s monies – something I can hardly believe.
Maureen – sorry, I’m afraid i think Bob Molloy died in 2015 in New Zealand. I can try and put you in touch with Stanley Crawford if you are interested in following up the story he suggests concerning Little?
We know many stories if Kuling including the truth around how Kuling was founded.
I would like to reach ES Littles family as we are researching for the Lushan Museum these original stories.
steve.harnsberger@gmail.com
Steve
Hi i would like to contact Jennifer Whitman, or any living relative of Edward Little.
Thank you
chileandleeds@yahoo.co.uk
Hello, I am a urban planner, working in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. I am very interested in the development and construction of Guling (Lushan) and it’s planning history. If you have relevant information from 1912 to 1949, please contact me.
Email: shuaikun1997@gmail.com
285648719@qq.com
Unfortunately, the electronic version of Unsung Colossus can not be found on the Internet
I have inherited Edward’s large photographic archive of life in China and some papers, so have been in touch with the last three posts. Lots of historic information! Have been exhibiting photographs in Europe and China.
Thank you Paul for putting me in touch.
Just returned from a visit to China to see our old homes in Shanghai, built in 1923, and Kuling(Lushan), built in 1896. Both houses at The Limit, at Hungjao airport, Shanghai have been exceptionally renovated and many thanks to the professional team who oversaw the works. Sadly Edward’s house in Kuling, although given heritage status in 1987, is in a terrible condition and about to collapse. Happy to share photographs.
Please do….
I can’t seem to attach photographs here so have sent some photographs of opening the Shanghai houses as a Museum, by email to you.
Regards
John
I just now stumbled on this website. I’m a descendant of two generations of missionaries in China. And they had a summer place in Kuling, probably dating from the earliest days of development in 1890s. My mother was born in Kuling in 1922. James R. Graham & Sophie P. Graham were my great grandparents, and their son was James R. Graham Jr. I believe their Kuling address was 87A, but would like to verify. Is there a map with these addresses? See my Substack “The China We Never Knew” https://dgreid49.substack.com
Dan,
I have all Edward Little’s photographs of Kuling from 1893 to 1925 and have sent some pictures to your website including a map showing your house lot at 87. Our house at lot 51 I visited in October last year, and was in awful condition, but this year has been completely renovated!
John