Empress Orchid.
by MIN, ANCHEE
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
It is the final days of the Chinese Empire. Trade in Opium with Europe is slowly corroding the power of the Ch'ing Dynasty. Orchid, a beautiful seventeen-year-old from an aristocratic, but impoverished family, is pushed into the maelstrom when she finds herself unexpectedly chosen to become a lower-ranking concubine of the Emperor. The world inside the Forbidden City is erotically charged and highly ritualised, but beneath its immaculate face lie whispers of murder and ghosts. The thousands of concubines will go to any lengths to bear the Emperor a son and become his Empress. Determined not to be a victim of the jealousies and foul play, Orchid trains herself in the art of pleasing a man, bribes her way into the royal bed and seduces the monarch. Little does she know that China will collapse around her, and she will be its last Empress. Empress Orchid is the story of this fascinating, strong-willed woman who, for generations has been vilified as a grand seductress and murderess. Anchee Min draws a vivid portrait of a flawed, yet utterly compelling woman and, through her life, the world of the Chinese court and the sexual and political lives of the royal concubines. Richly detailed and completely gripping, this is a novel of high drama and lyricism from the acclaimed author of Becoming Madame Mao and Red Azalea." Publisher's description. .
Synopsis
Empress Orchid (2004) is a novel by Anchee Min which was first published in Great Britain in 2004. It is written in first person and is a sympathetic account of the life of Empress Dowager Cixi - from her humble beginnings to her rise as the Empress Dowager. Names within the story are different in spelling but retain the same pronunciation - allowing the reader to identify each relevant character to his or her real life counterpart.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Asia Bookroom (AU)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 168747
- Title
- Empress Orchid.
- Author
- MIN, ANCHEE
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Company.
- Place of Publication
- New York.
- Date Published
- 2004.
- Keywords
- China, Ching Dynasty, Ch'ing Dynasty, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literature, Novel, Politics, Qing Dynasty, Royalty, Women, zz_Gallery_Out_of_Print_and_Secondhand_Books, zz_ListOn_eBay
Terms of Sale
Asia Bookroom
We offer a full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives mis-described or damaged. Please contact us first before returning any item.
About the Seller
Asia Bookroom
About Asia Bookroom
Asia Bookroom issues regular specialised book lists on Asia and invite you to let us know your interests so that we can let you know of new arrivals as they come in to stock. And if you are in Australia's capital city Canberra we hope you will visit our shop!
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Dustwrapper
- Also known as book jacket, dust cover, or dust wrapper, a dust jacket is a protective and decorative cover for a book that is...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...