Scan barcode
constancely's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
Feminist historymogreig's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating account of the woman who modernised China. An astute politician and ruler who deserves her correct place in history.
Beautifully written, this gripping account of Cixi a powerful read.
Beautifully written, this gripping account of Cixi a powerful read.
sarahlreadseverything's review
5.0
*Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book thanks to Goodreads First Reads. I recieved no other form of compensation and all opinions are my own*
I really enjoyed this one. It's readable, and the subject matter is fascinating. I have to admit, Chinese history is not my strong point and this served as an all encompassing introduction into the time period as well as a fascinating biography of an extraordinary woman. I am a little sad that I haven't read more about Empress Dowager Cixi before, as Chang's perspective is obviously a revisionist one. I'm looking forward to doing more reading, so I can see others perspectives on her.
The book starts with Cixi's birth, and traces her life all the way through to her death as the (almost) undisputed ruler of China. I enjoyed Chang's effort to make this a portrait of a woman as well as a ruler - effort is obviously made to explore who Cixi was in everyday life, not just as a head of state. I also enjoyed that even though her perspective is obviously revisionist (I understand that Cixi is usually portrayed as a tyrant or a despot, whereas Chang portrays her as a wise moderniser) she does not flinch from stating fact: Cixi did sanction murder, and torture, on multiple occasions and she made political decisions that turned out to be the wrong ones.
The picture of China Chang shows us is also a fascinating one and she does a beautiful job of showing a country undergoing extreme transition without it becoming the focus of the story she is trying to tell. Under Cixi's watch, China moved from the traditional to the modern, and later we see the beginnings of a society about to collapse.
Overall? Fascinating and interesting, Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China is well worth reading (although I do wish Chang had cited her sources better. There are notes at the end of the book, but no endnote notations in the text!)
I really enjoyed this one. It's readable, and the subject matter is fascinating. I have to admit, Chinese history is not my strong point and this served as an all encompassing introduction into the time period as well as a fascinating biography of an extraordinary woman. I am a little sad that I haven't read more about Empress Dowager Cixi before, as Chang's perspective is obviously a revisionist one. I'm looking forward to doing more reading, so I can see others perspectives on her.
The book starts with Cixi's birth, and traces her life all the way through to her death as the (almost) undisputed ruler of China. I enjoyed Chang's effort to make this a portrait of a woman as well as a ruler - effort is obviously made to explore who Cixi was in everyday life, not just as a head of state. I also enjoyed that even though her perspective is obviously revisionist (I understand that Cixi is usually portrayed as a tyrant or a despot, whereas Chang portrays her as a wise moderniser) she does not flinch from stating fact: Cixi did sanction murder, and torture, on multiple occasions and she made political decisions that turned out to be the wrong ones.
The picture of China Chang shows us is also a fascinating one and she does a beautiful job of showing a country undergoing extreme transition without it becoming the focus of the story she is trying to tell. Under Cixi's watch, China moved from the traditional to the modern, and later we see the beginnings of a society about to collapse.
Overall? Fascinating and interesting, Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China is well worth reading (although I do wish Chang had cited her sources better. There are notes at the end of the book, but no endnote notations in the text!)
ameyawarde's review
5.0
I don't even know what to say about Cixi. I'm blown away. She is definitely my new favorite historical woman/person. From a strong female friendship with her husband's empress, and their brilliant take over of power in their very early 20s and acting as joint empresses together for the rest of the proper Empress's life, to Cixi maintaining control for the rest of hers, but using that power for UNBELIEVABLE reforms. She literally took the VERY conservative, anti-change China from medieval times to the modern times with very little bloodshed, because she knew exactly how to get stuff done with the minimum of upsets, even from behind the curtain that had to always separate her and all the males of her court.
It really boggles my mind with just how radically she changed China during her reign. I don't know of any other world leader who ever achieved so much, especially so -relatively- peaceably. And yet, she was a woman in power, so she has been vilified in the extreme. So many things she accomplished have not been rightfully attributed to her, and instead went to the men around her-- which is so absurd it's rather enraging after reading this book, and how useless some of those people really were.
I just can't say enough good things about this book. It was super interesting, and I need a cat or a daughter or something to name after her because she was just a super amazing lady (despite the few murders that can be attributed to her-- for a world leader, I think her death count was still much less than most.)
It really boggles my mind with just how radically she changed China during her reign. I don't know of any other world leader who ever achieved so much, especially so -relatively- peaceably. And yet, she was a woman in power, so she has been vilified in the extreme. So many things she accomplished have not been rightfully attributed to her, and instead went to the men around her-- which is so absurd it's rather enraging after reading this book, and how useless some of those people really were.
I just can't say enough good things about this book. It was super interesting, and I need a cat or a daughter or something to name after her because she was just a super amazing lady (despite the few murders that can be attributed to her-- for a world leader, I think her death count was still much less than most.)
eletricjb's review against another edition
4.0
Super interesting, wish someone would write this woman's life as a novel. Or translate one that already exists!? Something. Biographies are great for info, but they're not very engaging.
cosmith2015's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed this book. Mr. Chang did a great job bringing the Dowager Empress to life. I particularly enjoyed how he divided the book. Several chapters would be dedicated to the same span of time, but each chapter would be about different things. One might be policies, another was her day to day life.