A Tale of Red Pekin

In Short

Set during the Boxer Rebellion in China, this novel follows the St. John family and their companions as they navigate a landscape of terror and uncertainty. As missionaries trapped in a hostile environment, they rely on their Christian faith to endure the loss of loved ones and the threat of execution. Through a mix of harrowing escapes, clandestine movements, and the protection of a sympathetic Chinese convert, the narrative emphasizes the resilience of the human spirit. It remains a poignant, if stylized, relic of turn-of-the-century missionary literature and the ideals of that era.

The Story

The narrative begins in the peaceful garden of a mission compound at Cheng-si, where the St. John family lives in relative tranquility. Paul St. John, a devoted missionary, and his wife, Christine, raise their children with a deep commitment to their faith, even as reports of the Boxer uprising create a sense of mounting dread. The atmosphere shifts from domestic warmth to urgent survival when the violence reaches their village. In a harrowing sequence of events, Paul is captured by rioters while attempting to protect his family and the local converts. Despite the peril, his wife and children manage to escape by navigating a series of interconnected houses, eventually reaching the road toward the safety of Wei-hai-wei.

During their flight, the family suffers a profound tragedy: the death of their youngest child, baby Anna, who passes away during the grueling journey. Meanwhile, Paul is saved from a torturous death by the intervention of Mr. Li, a courageous Chinese man who risks everything to rescue the missionary. Mr. Li’s actions are motivated by his growing fascination with the unwavering peace the St. Johns display in the face of death—a testimony that ultimately leads to his own conversion to Christianity.

Parallel to the St. John family's ordeal, the story follows Nina, a young woman associated with the family, and her friend Lilian Ross. They are caught in the turmoil of Pekin, forced to flee for their lives as the city falls into chaos. Their journey is marked by narrow escapes, including the discovery of a fallen soldier and a period of captivity in a hidden chamber. They are eventually aided by Mr. Crawford, a young soldier determined to rescue them, and Mr. Li, who uses his knowledge of secret passages to shepherd the group toward safety.

The arcs of these characters converge as they reach the protection of the Legations and, eventually, find their way to a peaceful conclusion. The climax involves a tense escape through a subterranean passage where Mr. Li forces a key from a treacherous collaborator, allowing the group to slip past their pursuers just as the dawn breaks. The story concludes months later at a quiet English rectory during Christmas. The survivors have gathered to celebrate their deliverance. Though the family mourns the loss of baby Anna, there is a sense of wholeness in their reunion. Mr. Li, now a baptized Christian, stands as a testament to the mission’s impact, and the future holds the promise of renewal, hinted at by the prospect of approaching wedding bells.

How It Unfolds

The gathering storm The St. John family lives in a mission compound while news of the uprising spreads, forcing them to contemplate the possibility of martyrdom. Mr. St. John struggles with the fear of leaving his wife and children unprotected, while his wife maintains a steadfast, calm resolve.

The flight begins Violence erupts in the village, and the family is forced to abandon their home, moving through the houses of local Christians to escape notice. During this desperate journey, the youngest child dies, leaving the family to find solace in their spiritual beliefs.

A life saved Paul St. John is brutally attacked by rioters but is rescued by Mr. Li, who is deeply moved by the missionary's lack of malice. This act of mercy solidifies the connection between the two men and begins a sequence of narrow escapes for the rest of the group.

The struggle in Pekin Nina and Lilian find themselves isolated in a city turned against them, facing the constant threat of discovery and capture. Their survival depends on the bravery of a young soldier and the strategic knowledge of Mr. Li, who guides them through the dangerous city.

The final escape The group navigates a secret underground passage, forced to confront a traitor holding the key to their freedom. They narrowly avoid capture by the Boxers, emerging into safety just as the sun rises over their path to liberty.

The People

Paul St. John is the moral anchor of the narrative. Driven by his commitment to his missionary work, he views his life and death through the lens of divine purpose. His steadfastness in the face of torture earns him the respect of his companions and, eventually, the conversion of Mr. Li.

Christine St. John serves as the emotional heart of the family. Her grace under pressure provides the stability necessary for her children to endure the trauma of their flight. She loses her child but remains anchored by her faith, serving as a model of maternal strength.

Nina is a spirited, sometimes impulsive young woman who learns to trade her carefree nature for a deeper, more mature faith. Her journey is one of learning to trust in forces beyond her control, and her ultimate survival is linked to her growing bond with Mr. Crawford.

Mr. Li represents the pivotal bridge between the Chinese community and the missionaries. Originally a non-believer, his transition to a "splendid Christian" is earned through his acts of bravery and his intellectual struggle with the peaceful demeanor of those he rescues.

Mr. Crawford is the embodiment of youthful, unhesitating courage. He is defined by his loyalty and his willingness to face death to ensure the safety of Nina and Lilian, representing the protective, active side of the resistance against the uprising.

In Its Own Voice

"The Chinese are dreadfully, dreadfully cruel, and very cunning and deceitful, but father says they make splendid Christians."

This observation reflects the dualistic view the author holds toward the local population as the family balances fear with their evangelical mission.

"I heard the servants talking one day, and nurse said she was sure the baby would never live to grow up."

This early, ominous remark establishes the atmosphere of impending grief that permeates the St. John family's domestic life before the violence begins.

"The din was terrific; the courtyard a mass of howling, frantic rioters."

The author employs this stark imagery to convey the sudden, overwhelming transformation of the peaceful mission into a site of violent upheaval.

What It's Really About

The book is an exploration of the "theology of suffering," arguing that the most profound tests of faith are those that require the total abandonment of one's own safety. It suggests that peace is not the absence of danger, but a psychological and spiritual state that can be maintained even when one is surrounded by "dens and caves of the earth." The narrative also delves into the cultural friction of the era, presenting the conversion of the local Chinese population as a triumph of moral example over hostility. Ultimately, it posits that life’s value is found not in its length or comfort, but in its alignment with a higher, eternal purpose, making the loss of a child or the threat of death merely a passage to a "serener clime."

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of missionary literature or the ways individuals reconcile trauma with religious devotion will find this a fascinating study. It is a work of its time, written with a clear, earnest tone that reflects the period’s attitudes toward colonial missions and the "heathen" dangers the protagonists perceive. Those who appreciate a narrative driven by intense, unwavering faith will find the family’s journey compelling, though modern readers should be prepared for the characters’ period-specific views on Chinese society, which range from deep paternalism to open condemnation.

The prose is warm and personal, designed to be read like a collection of journals or letters, which gives the harrowing events a strangely intimate quality. It is a brief but heavy read, punctuated by hymns and scriptural comfort, intended to uplift the reader through the depiction of suffering. It stays with you because of the stark contrast between the characters’ extreme, life-or-death circumstances and their remarkably composed, almost ethereal reaction to them. It is an honest look at the mindset of a specific class of historical actors who viewed their own survival—and their own losses—as a direct, purposeful interaction with the divine.