Tim Clissold was born and raised in North Yorkshire. After graduating in Physics and Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University, he joined Arthur Andersen and worked in London, Australia and Hong Kong where he developed a fascination with China. He spent two years studying Mandarin Chinese in London and Beijing before becoming one of the founding partners of a private equity group investing in China. He has lived and worked in China for sixteen years and during that time travelled to almost every part of the country.

From publisher

Mr. China tells the rollicking story of a young man who goes to China with the misguided notion that he will help bring the Chinese into the modern world, only to be schooled by the most resourceful and creative operators he would ever meet. Part memoir, part parable, Mr. China is one man's coming-of-age story where he learns to respect and admire the nation he sought to conquer.