Behind a Million Faces : Chinese Australians through 200 years, 1820s-2025

An extensively researched historical account of the lives of Chinese Australians and their role in politics, economy and culture of Australia.

This is the history and human story of Chinese Australians, who are today a significant ethnic group in Australia and an influential element in the nation’s politics, economy and culture. Over two centuries, the Chinese came – from mostly poor peasants fleeing the decaying Qing dynasty to largely middle-class migrants from the ascendant regime of Ji Xinping. The Chinese-Australian story is one of dreams pursued or lost, of love and unlikely friendships, of triumphs and heartbreaks, of racism and resilience, vulnerability and strength. Emilia Tagaza masterfully weaves together extensive historical research, vivid personal stories, and incisive political analysis to illuminate the lives behind the statistics and the headlines, amid shifting domestic politics and turbulent global relations. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Australia’s past, present, and future through the lens of one of its most enduring and dynamic communities.