Hello,
I hope some erudite reader can help with a question about One's Company. I'm editing a piece about Fleming and China, and have encountered the following quote:
‘The recorded history of Chinese civilisation covers a period of four thousand years. The population of China is estimated at 450 millions. China is larger than Europe. The author of this book is twenty-six years old. He has spent, altogether, about seven months in China. He does not speak Chinese.’
Sadly, I don't have this book. Online I find many examples of this quote on the book sites (Amazon, etc), but they all seem to contain the same errors, so I suspect they are all copies of a dubious source.
Would someone please tell me whether or not the quote above is accurate? Does he use 'millions' or 'million'? Does he spell the numbers ('four thousand/twenty-six/seven') or does he use numerals? Is the punctuation accurate?
I ask out of respect for the man, and in the spirit of seeking accuracy.
Freelancealot
