meaning - "sallow complexion"


In Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, in several places he describes people having a "sallow complexion".


According to Collins dictionary:



Sallow


(esp of human skin) of an unhealthy pale or yellowish colour



Unfortunately I'm not a native English speaker, and from the context I can't decide whether he means a very pale Caucasian or rather an Asian.


Not that it really matters for the comprehension of the story, but at first sight I thought it was a misspelling of shallow and this aroused my curiosity, now I have to find out.



Answer



Given the author and the era in which he wrote, you should interpret this as meaning "pale Caucasian".


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