Biography:Troy Parfitt
Troy Parfitt | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1972 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | U. New Brunswick |
| Years active | Travel writer, English teacher |
Notable work | Notes from the Other China |
| Parent(s) | Foster Parfitt[1] |
Troy Parfitt is a Canadian[1][2] author and traveler who focuses on critical travel commentary and cultural exposes. He grew up in New Brunswick, Canada but has lived in Taiwan and Korea and has taught English as a second language in East Asia for twelve years. He wrote two books, called Notes From The Other China[3] and Why China Will Never Rule the World.[4] As well as this he also taught History for a year in Scotland.
Reviews
Reviewer Bradley Winterton in the Taipei Times, reviewing his first book, described Parfitt as a "bad traveler, an insensitive loud-mouth ranting on about the absurdities of life abroad".[3] Reviewer John Burroughs described it as "travel commentary and cultural analysis."[5] Reviewer Alan Caruba in the Canada Free Press described Parfitt as his "own man" with an "eye for detail and a talent for describing his journey in ways that do not ignore some obvious and ugly truths about the real China."[4] Reviewer Terence P. Ward of AllBooks Review wrote that Parfitt is "fluent in Mandarin" and "brings a lot of information to the table" to back up his claims about China being filthy, overcrowded, with unimaginable poverty, and "pollution so thick that it obscures the sun".[6] According to Ward, Parfitt argues that "China is romanticized, and cannot possibly ever rule the world because its population is willfully ignorant, poorly educated, and clueless about the world beyond that nation's borders."[6] Vancouver Sun reviewer Jonathan Manthorpe agreed with Parfitt's conclusion that "China is unlikely to be an influential superpower because its current regime has no vision, its economy has developed no capacity for innovation, and there is no sense of optimism" as well as Parfitt's assessment that "China is a gloomy, bitter, xenophobic and ill-favoured place."[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "PARFITT, FOSTER". Telegraph-Journal. August 4, 2009. http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/classifieds/obituaries/listing.php?id=230811&t=0&c=8&pub=2&period=. Retrieved 2011-04-27. "Foster is survived by one son Troy Parfitt ..."
- ↑ Craig Ferguson (2006). "Notes From The Other China – book launch". craig ferguson images (newsletter). http://www.craigfergusonimages.com/2007/12/notes-from-the-other-china-book-launch/. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bradley Winterton (book reviewer) Troy Parfitt (author) (Jan 20, 2008). "'Notes From the Other China' stirs emotions". Taipei Times. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/01/20/2003398111. Retrieved 2011-04-27. "Notes from the Other China is the memoir of a Canadian, Troy Parfitt, ..."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Alan Caruba (reviewer) (March 21, 2011). "China is NOT the Future (op-ed piece)". Canada Free Press. http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/34674. Retrieved 2011-04-27. "Parfitt is his own man..."
- ↑ John Burroughs (February 2008). "Reviewer's Bookwatch". Midwest Book Review. http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/feb_08.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-27. "Volume 8, Number 2 -- Troy combines memoir with travel commentary and cultural analysis w..."
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Terence P Ward (April 2011). "(book title:) Why China Will Never Rule the World". AllBooks Review. http://www.allbooksreviewint.com/ReviewShowcase.html. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
- ↑ Jonathan Manthorpe (reviewer) (May 2, 2011). "Thesis that China lacks superpower qualities is sound". Vancouver Sun. https://vancouversun.com/Thesis+that+China+lacks+superpower+qualities+sound/4708471/story.html. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
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