Hello /r/askhistorians, a relative of mine is getting married to a historian who specializes in Qing Dynasty China. What are some things I should read to be able to discuss that time period somewhat with him? I went through the FAQ book list, but none of the titles explicitly listed the Qing except two very specific titles covering only the Taiping rebellion and rural farm life.

My only reading background on China for that time period is the Cambridge Illustrated History of China and a textbook I read back in high-school. Any additional more general readings are also welcome.

As a side note, I'm also interested in technology or art trends that were unique to the Qing that did not exist in earlier periods such as the Ming or Han. An art or culture book would definitely be great too!