20世纪20至30年代出现了一批以研究北京社会生活、民风习俗为题材的英文研究著作。作者搜集了北京各社会阶层、街头风景和生活习俗的材料,撰写了《北京生活侧影》。该书文字细腻、生动活泼,并收录了一百多张记录北京当时市井民俗的珍贵图片。
正如周永治在序中所说,燕瑞博先生“对我们了解中国作出了富有价值的贡献。他通过摄影精确记录了中国人各方面的生活。他的著作对于新的来访者其价无比,对于老居民则是很好的备忘录。在未来的岁月,他的著作极有可能被用作论及被遗忘的生活层面的教科书。”
Introduction--By Hardy Jowett
Note on Romanization
Chapter I A City of Pleasure
Chapter II The Hutng and Its Inhabitants
Chapter III Street Vendors
Chapter IV Flower Streets and Willow Lanes
Chapter V Pawnshops, Middlemen and Money Lenders
Middlemen
Money Lenders
Chapter VI Feasts and Restaurants
Chapter VII Actors and the Theatre
Chapter VIII Various Professions
Chapter IX Gates, Street Names and Various Places of Interest
Street Names
Certain Places of Interest
Chapter X Politicians, Some Office Holders and
Certain Educationalists
Chapter XI Red Ceremonials, Marriages, Births and Birthdays
Births
Birthdays
Chapter XII Tales of the Spirit World
Water Ghosts
Wall Building Ghosts
Hanging Ghosts
Barber Ghosts
Idol Ghosts
Ghosts Connected with Sickness and Death
Devil Possession
T'ou Sheng Kuei
Kuei Ch'ai, or "Harbingers of Death"
Spirit Foxes and Other Strange Phenomena
Precautions against Evil Influences
Ghost Festivals