Cixi s extraordinary reign saw the birth of modern china. Oct 11, 20 an extract from jung changs new book about the concubine who came to rule china 23 sep 20 the key challenge that faced china during cixis lifetime was the growing might of the european powers. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read empress dowager cixi. Jan 30, 2014 empress dowager cixi has immense historic value and i would suggest it as a mustread to every history enthusiast, for even though it is a history book in itself, it does not, in case make you feel as if youre back in a classroom, trying to cram all that uninteresting dates, names and events. Nov 18, 20 new york, november 12, 20 historian jung chang proposes dowager empress cixi as a farsighted early reformer, citing her adoption of a free press and her decision to ban the practice of foot. Chang presents a sympathetic portrait of the empress dowager cixi, who unofficially controlled the manchu qing dynasty in china for 47 years, from 1861 to her death in 1908. Jung chang reveals the truth of another chapter in chinese.
Nov 03, 20 jung changs revisionist account of the concubine who launched modern china wild swans author has written a new book on empress dowager cixi agence francepresse in hong kong. Cixi at once launched a palace coup against the regents appointed by her husband and made herself the real ruler of chinabehind the throne, literally, with a silk screen separating her from her officials who were all male. The spectator this is a rich, dramatic story of rebellions, battles, plotting, rivalry, foreign invasion, punishment and forbidden love. All of this adds up to make empress dowager cixi a powerful read. The concubine who launched modern china by jung chang alfred a. Cixi reigned during extraordinary times and had to deal with a host of major national crises.
Jung chang s revisionism means that this book reveals a new and different woman. Jung chang, author of the acclaimed memoir wild swans and a coauthor of the contentious biography mao. Knopf, 20, jung chang tells the extraordinary life story of chinas empress cixi 18351908, who ruled china for 47 years and almost singlehandedly dragged it into the modern age. Nov 21, 20 in this extraordinary biography chang, coauthor of mao. Drawing on newly available sources, jung chang comprehensively overturns cixi s reputation as a conservative despot. Oct 15, 20 empress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history. The woman who made china modern cixi who must be obeyed jung chang s new book tackles the legend and legacy of empress dowager cixi, the concubine who modernized china.
Jung changs new book gives the infamous concubine cixi her due. Jung changs empress dowager cixi the new york times. At the age of sixteen, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, cixi was chosen as one of the emperors numerous concubines and sexual partners. However, author jung chang wild swans has uncovered new research and debunked the mythmakers to bring us empress dowager cixi in all her complexity. Jung chang s new book gives the infamous concubine cixi her due. Jung chang comprehensively overturns the conventional view of cixi as a diehard conservative and cruel despot. The unknown story, has set out to reverse such negative verdicts. A new york times notable bookempress dowager cixi 18351908. A new york times notable bookempress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history.
I was eager to experience jung chang s version of cixi s story. Simon sebag montefiore bbc history magazine a truly authoritative account of cixi s rule. She ruled china for decades and brought a medieval empire into the modern age. Three women at the heart of twentiethcentury china a major new biography from the internationally bestselling author of wild swans, mao and empress dowager cixi. Sep 22, 20 read an extract from jung chang s new book. Author jung chang describes in masterful prose, how cixi, in a ruthlessly male environment, leapfrogged over the heads of the emperor, princes and grandees to rule over the chinese empire, demonstrating outstanding qualities as a gifted political tactician and major reformer of a feudal society. Jung chang is the internationally bestselling author of wild swans. In her absorbing new book, she laments that cixi has for so long. Oct 27, 20 jung chang, author of the acclaimed memoir wild swans and a coauthor of the contentious biography mao. The empress dowager cixi ruled china, mostly directly, from the death of her husband. She ruled china for decades and brought a medieval.
Jung changs revisionist account of the concubine who. A new york times notable book an npr best book of the year in 1852, at age sixteen, cixi was chosen as one of emperor xianfengs numerous concubines. Jung chang home books big sister, little sister, red sister. Oct 29, 20 empress dowager cixi ebook written by jung chang. Oct 25, 20 jung chang praises these as proof of cixis progressive character. In this groundbreaking biography, jung chang vividly describes how cixi fought against monumental obstacles to change china. The concubine who launched modern china 9780307271600.
Jung chang reveals the truth of another chapter in chinese history. Under her, the ancient country attained industries, railways, electricity, and a military with uptodate weaponry. To call this a ragstoriches story would be a gross understatement. Against this broad consensus stands jung changs lively biography, first published in 20 and now available as an ebook, that depicts cixi pronounced tseshi as quite the opposite. No single book on cixi is adequate by itself, at a minimum, if you are interested in her story you must read at least 4 books.
In her groundbreaking new biography, empress dowager cixi. Nov 10, 2017 jung chang talks empress dowager cixi, flirting with a military dictator and advice from imelda marcos wild swans author, who appeared at the 2017 hong kong international literary festival, still. One cannot help but be truly impressed with cixis intellect and brilliant usage i received an advanced copy of empress dowager cixi through goodreads. Empress dowager cixi by jung chang penguin books australia. At age 16, cixi was chosen as one of the emperors concubines, albeit a lowranking one. Sep 26, 20 if you ask me, empress dowager cixi ranks up there along with queen elizabeth i. Books from jung chang the international bestselling author of wild swans.
Jung chang has written a pathbreaking and generally persuasive book. Empress dowager cixi by jung chang penguin random house. The concubine who launched modern china is a 20 biography written by jung chang, published by alfred a. The concubine who launched modern china by jung chang january 6, 2020 patrick t reardon 0 as a world leader, empress dowager cixi hasnt had good press, nothing like, say, queen elizabeth i or queen victoria.
Still interested in chang s version of cixi s life, i then purchased a printed copy of the book. Jung chang praises these as proof of cixis progressive character. Jung chang makes cixis story accessible through her no nonsense prose and seemingly thorough research. Three daughters of china, mao and empress dowager cixi. Her books have been translated into over 40 languages and sold more than 15 million copies outside mainland china where they are banned. Few authors can stand up to that comparison and shouldnt have to. Empress dowager cixi jung chang 9781448191420 netgalley. Jung changs 20 release, now available as an ebook, reflects on one of modern chinas most influential figures. Jung changs revisionism means that this book reveals a new and different woman. Under her the ancient country attained virtually all the attributes of a modern state. Unfortunately, the audiobook experience was so awful i didnt get to. Cixi, chang argues, was not the brutal despot of conventional opinion, but a free thinker who opened the doors to the west, revolutionised the. Jung chang portrays the empress dowager cixi as a protofeminist who. Chang uses new evidence and meticulous research to cast a spotlight on the amazing woman she regards as the mother of modern china.
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