Read more
Yehonala entered the Imperial Palace of China in 1851 as a concubine third grade, together with her cousin Sakota. At the age of 15 she had left behind her family, the love of her life, Jung Lu, and nearly all contact with the outside world to live within the new Emperor's harem.
List of contents
Author s note.
Acknowledgements.
Cast of major characters.
Maps.
Introduction.
Timeline.
No joy shall be equal...
The coming of the Manchu.
Concubine, third class.
The Great Within.
Rebels and foreign devils.
The Emperor flees.
Acts of barbarism.
Silent conspiracy.
An auspicious beginning.
Death of a favourite.
The Emperor s good fortune .
Slicing the melon.
When a bird is dying.
Retirement .
Rebel Emperor.
Coup and countercoup.
Self-strengthening.
The Righteous Harmonious Fists.
Siege at Beijing.
Flight ... and return.
Reluctant departure.
Epilogue.
Postscript.
References and notes.
Bibliography.
Index.
Report
"...a fascinating story..." (Publishing News, 19 July 2002)
"...Laidler's book is meticulously researched and covers a fascinating period in Chinese history..." (The Times, 12 April 2003)
"...Keith Laidler's absorbing new history of 19th century China..." (Daily Mail, 18 April 2003)
...an engaging history of nineteenth-century court politics... (Time Literary Supplement. 30 May 2003)
"...a bloody, intense and absorbingly written story..." (Good Book Guide, June 2003)
'Laidler has written a page-turner of a book...' (The Asian Review of Books, 30 June 2003)
