Full name: Imperial Woman: The Story of the Last Empress of China

Author: Pearl S. Buck Year: 1956 Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Historical fiction, Fiction, Classic Cultures: China, Asia Purchase/reserch links: Amazon Goodreads LibraryThing ISBNs: 9780381980375 0381980375

Imperial Woman is the fictionalized biography of the last Empress in China, Ci-xi, who began as a concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor and on his death became the de facto head of the Qing Dynasty until her death in 1908.Buck recreates the life of one of the most intriguing rulers during a time of intense turbulence.Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. According to custom, she moved to the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen to become one of hundreds of concubines. But her singular beauty and powers of manipulation quickly moved her into the position of Second Consort.Tzu Hsi was feared and hated by many in the court, but adored by the people. The Empress's rise to power (even during her husband's life) parallels the story of China's transition from the ancient to the modern way. Similar books: Spring Moon by Bette Bao Lord Dragon Seed by Pearl S. Buck Peony by Pearl S. Buck Kinfolk by Pearl S. Buck The Living Reed by Pearl S. Buck Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama Letter from Peking by Pearl S. Buck The Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna Once on a Moonless Night by Dai Sijie Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure by Adam Williams Shanghai Baby by Wei Hui The Three Daughters of Madam Liang by Pearl S. Buck The Incarnations by Susan Barker Wild Ginger by Anchee Min The Vagrants by Yiyun Li My Life As Emperor by Su Tong The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck The Hidden Flower by Pearl S. Buck The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck