Dragon Lady: The Life and Legend of the Last Empress of China

This was a stunning book. Well written, packed with fascinating detail, I wish I had ten more like it to turn to. Anyone looking for an inside view of a part of China's history would do well to pick up this book. It was a wonderful read.

I bought this book to back up historical events in the novel by Pearl Buck. Dragon Lady is very thorough.

I am not a student of Chinese history but love history in general. I am an American who has visit China and have enjoyed the hospitality of the Chinese people. This volume is less a study of Tsu Tsi (spelling is varied), than a good primer for westerners to learn a history of China from 1865ish to 1910ish. It repudiates a lot of the early "comprehensive accounts" that were based on fictuous reporting from westerners on the scene at the time who had their own agendas. It is somewhat dry, voluminous and not a light read, however it is a worthwhile book for westerners looking to learn more about the struggles China experienced in the 19th century before Sung Yat Seng and Kiang Kai Check and the Communists really established themselves. Would I read it again? No. Was it worth reading? Yes, if you want to learn more about what China has experienced.

Wanted to find out a bit more about this enigma of Chinese history and It doesn't disappoint , what most people think they know about her is in fact wild fiction spread by men ( with dubious sexual tastes) who just didn't like a woman in charge . At the end of her life the poor lady must of been driven mad by the scheming ,untrustworthy and just plain mad men and woman around her in her court . A brilliant film could and really should be made about her .

The Last Empress had a bad press, this changes your view of the propaganda about her. This book is more about the corruption of those who created her biographies than the Empress herself.

good book