

The Empress's rise to power (even during her husband's life) parallels the story of China's transition from the ancient to the modern way. Tzu Hsi was feared and hated by many in the court, but adored by the people. But her singular beauty and powers of manipulation quickly moved her into the position of Second Consort. A fascinating New York Times bestseller from the Nobel Prizewinning author of The.

According to custom, she moved to the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen to become one of hundreds of concubines. Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. Buck recreates the life of one of the most intriguing rulers during a time of intense turbulence.

Imperial Woman is the fictionalized biography of the last Empress in China, Ci-xi, who began as a concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor and on his death became the de facto head of the Qing Dynasty until her death in 1908. Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. From the Nobel Prizewinning author of The Good Earth: the New York Timesbestselling biography of Tzu Hsi, the concubine who became Chinas last empress.
