One of the most popular and controversial Chinese history books ever written, this account explores the Forbidden City during the reign of Empress Dowager Cixi (1861–1908). Entertaining and enlightening, this record examines a world of power-thirsty eunuchs, concubines, and Mandarins. Filled with intrigue, bitter antagonism, and ruthless reprisals and predicting the fall of the Qing dynasty, this history is heavily based on Chinese source materials, some of which may have been fabricated.
“A document more illuminating than perhaps any that has come out of China.” —London Times
“Probably no such collection of Chinese documents has ever before been given to the world, or one that better reflects the realities of Chinese official life.” —Sidney G. P. Coryn,New York Times
J. O. P.Blandserved as China correspondent for theLondon Timesfrom 1897 until he left China in 1910.Edmund Backhousewas a linguist, a scholar, and a translator, who worked for the British Foreign Service and theLondon Times.Derek Sandhausis the chief editor of Earnshaw Books and the author ofTales of Old Hong KongandTales of Old Peking.
![China Under the Empress Dowager: The History of the Life and Times of Tzu Hsi [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/0/5/2/2_4584654.jpg "China Under the Empress Dowager: The History of the Life and Times of Tzu Hsi [Paperback]")