| Description |
xiii, 24 un-numbered pages of plates, 436 pages : illustrations (some color), maps ; 25 cm |
| Summary |
In this ground-breaking biography, Jung Chang vividly describes how Empress Dowager Cixi fought against monumental obstacles to change China. Under her the ancient country attained virtually all the attributes of a modern state: industries, railways, electricity, telegraph, and an army and navy with up-to-date weaponry. |
| Note |
"This is a Borzoi book." |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 375-415) and index. |
| Contents |
I. The imperial concubine in stormy times (1835-1861) -- Concubine to an emperor (1835-56) -- From the Opium War to the burning of the old Summer Palace (1839-60) -- Emperor Xianfeng dies (1860-61) -- The coup that changed China -- II. Reigning behind her sons' throne (1861-1875) -- First step on the long road to modernity (1861-9) -- Virgin journeys to the west (1861-71) -- Love doomed -- A vendetta against the west (1869-71) -- Life and death of Emperor Tongzhi (1861-1875) -- III. Ruling through an adopted son (1875-1889) -- A three-year-old is made emperor -- Modernisation accelerates (1875-89) -- Defender of the empire (1875-89) -- IV. Emperor Guangxu takes over (1889-1898) -- The education of Emperor Guangxu (1875-94) -- The Summer Palace (1886-94) -- In retirement and in leisure (1889-94) -- War with Japan -- A peace that ruined China -- The scramble for China (1895-8) -- V. To the front of the stage (1898-1901) -- The reforms of 1898 -- A plot to kill Cixi (september 1898) -- Desperate to dethrone her adopted son (1898-1900) -- To war against the world powers: with the Boxers (1899-1900) -- Fighting to a bitter end -- Flight (1900-1) -- Remorse (1900-1) -- VI. The real revolution of modern China (1901-1908) -- Return to Beijing (1901-2) -- Making friends with westerners (1902-7) -- Cixi's revolution (1902-8) -- The vote! (1905-8) -- Coping with insurgencies, assassins and the Japanese (1902-8) -- Deaths -- Epilogue: China after Empress Dowager Cixi. |
| Subject |
Cixi, Empress dowager of China, 1835-1908.
|
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Empresses -- China -- Biography.
|
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China -- Politics and government -- 19th century.
|
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China -- History -- 1861-1912.
|
| Genre |
Biography.
|
| Added Title |
Concubine who launched modern China |
| ISBN |
9780307271600 |
|
0307271609 |
|
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