March 29, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Native Pens Book About Untold Story Of International Relations:

Santa Monica native and author Robert S. Wells delves into the story behind the economic relationship between the U.S. and China in his new book, “Voices from the Bottom of the South China Sea: The Untold Story of America’s Largest Chinese Emigrant Disaster.”

After developing an interest strong enough to invest four years of extensive research and writing, Wells sought out to elaborate on an untold story of international relations.

With a 30-year career in the Navy during which he served on eight ships, Wells’ professional backdrop motivated his initial curiosity about the subject matter a decade ago.

“It all started at lunch with members of the Chinese Embassy in Washington in 2005,” Wells explained. “We were beginning preparations for the Spring 2006 State Visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao. During the conversation about the U.S.-China economic relationship, we all wondered when the relationship started.”

Wells attended John Adams Junior High School, Santa Monica High School, and Santa Monica College.

As a California native, Wells initially thought of the Gold Rush and became drawn to steamship service in San Francisco in the 19th century.

After some basic research, the S.S. Japan in particular caught his eye due to the fact that it was lost at sea.

“There are wonderful research facilities in Washington,” Wells said. “I discovered the inquiry report of the loss of the S.S. Japan and I knew then that I needed to write a book and tell the story.”

Upon further study, Wells started to foster a personal connection with the Captain of the S.S. Japan, Edward Warsaw, as well as the numerous lives of Chinese emigrants who braved the ocean voyage.

“I’m a ship captain that’s sailed the South China Sea,” Wells said. “The more I read about Warsaw and the challenges of taking an all-wooden sidewheel steamer across the Pacific Ocean with hundreds of Chinese emigrants and passengers, I was hooked.”

According to Wells, the U.S. relied on sidewheel steamers – which were “riverboat designs from the 1850s for trade” – largely for mail transportation and trade development with China and Japan.

“[The voyages] were dangerous, risky, and monotonous,” Wells said. “Once I finally found the primary documents on the S.S. Japan tragedy, it revealed the courage, tragedy, and the lives of Captain Warsaw, his passengers, and the richly important story of the Chinese emigrants and what they endured and how hard they worked.”

As for the research process, Wells described the journey as “placing pieces into a mosaic” that revealed a bigger picture: his focus shifted as he sifted through various sources.

“At first it was all about the ship, then the Captain, and finally the larger story of the Chinese experience in Gold Mountain in California,” Wells explained. “After three years and visits to four different scholarly institutions, I had the first draft of the manuscript, which I edited and submitted to the Library of Congress.”

Although it took time and patience to receive a copyright, garner appropriate illustrations, and become approved by a publisher, “Voices” was published in October 2014.

Through the book, Wells said that he wanted “to provide the readers new history about the U.S. and China, especially the Guangdong Province where almost 100 percent of 19th century Chinese emigration to California and the U.S. originated.”

Wells is currently a consultant in the greater Washington, D.C. area as president and CEO of his company, Bob Wells Associates, where he helps clients with strategic planning and marketing management.

Wells is presently writing a screenplay based on one of the stories within “Voices.”

For more information on Voices, visit southchinavoices.com.

Related Posts

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

FILM REVIEWMISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONERated PG-13163 MinutesReleased July 11th The story in this “Mission: Impossible” chapter, “Dead...

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

FILM REVIEWINDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINYRated PG-13154 MinutesReleased June 30th The director of Indiana Jones and the Dial...

Film Review: Past Lives

June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023

FILM REVIEWPAST LIVESRated PG-13105 MinutesLimited Releases June 2nd and June 9th, Full Release June 23rd The Korean concept of “In...

Film Review: Sanctuary

June 8, 2023

June 8, 2023

FILM REVIEWSANCTUARYRated R96 MinutesReleased May 19th In my humble estimation, this is one of the best movies of the year....

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

A Riveting Revival of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning “A Soldier’s Play” Now Playing At The Ahmanson Theatre

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

On Stage With… Murder mysteries, whether cinematic or theatrical, are one of the most popular subjects. The list is quite...

Film Review: Chevalier

May 12, 2023

May 12, 2023

By Kathryn Boole  RATED PG-13107 MinutesReleased April 21, 2023 Chevalier is based on the true story of a historical figure...

Ballet at the Broad Stage Memorial Weekend – Meet the Talent!

May 10, 2023

May 10, 2023

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica returns to the Broad Stage with special guest artists kicking off Friday May 26th with...

Elizabeth McGovern Lights Up The Stage in “Ava – The Secret Conversations”

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

Play About Legendary Screen Star Runs Until May 14 At The Geffen Playhouse By Beverly Cohn Ava Gardner, born Ava...

Unconventional Art Festival “The Other Art Fair” Returns to Santa Monica This Weekend

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

140 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar await visitors at Barker Hangar The Other Art...

Samohi Theatre’s “The Drowsy Chaperone” Takes the Stage in Santa Monica

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

Shows will take place at Barnum Hall on March 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and March 5 at 3...

Film Review: “Marlow”

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

FILM REVIEW“MARLOWE”Rated R109 MinutesReleased February 15th “Marlowe” is a beautifully shot period piece that takes place in the late 1930’s....

Film Review: All Quite on the Western Front

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

I have never been a soldier at war, although I have close friends and relatives who have been. Universally they...

SMC Emeritus Concert Band to Hold Free Concert This Weekend at the Broad Stage

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

Concert February 26 will feature musical selections with an outdoor theme Santa Monica College’s Emeritus Concert Band, under the baton...