In History in Three Keys: The Boxers as Event, Experience, and Myth, Cohen provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of the Boxer Rebellion. He begins by situating the Rebellion within the larger context of late Qing dynasty China and tracing its roots to the growing sense of nationalism that was prevalent at the time. He then goes on to describe the events of the Rebellion itself, paying particular attention to the experiences of both foreign nationals and Chinese peasants who were caught up in the fighting. Cohen also addresses the ways in which the memory of the Rebellion has been shaped by both Chinese and Western narratives, painting a complex picture of an event that is often oversimplified in popular accounts.