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A review by runjnee
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang
3.0
Cixi's story is undoubtedly fascinating. The woman behind the screen who began the modernisation of China and ushered it into the 20th century better than any other Qing monarch could have, and also the woman that abolished foot-binding - what a legacy to leave behind. It is apparently sadly covered up due to the misogynistic nature of the political system as well as the historians of the 100 years after her death.
I picked up the book expecting to like it. I however thought the writing seemed patchy; it shone in some parts while it barely made a cursory effort in others. I would've thought that a story of such political intrigue could have been written in a more compelling fashion, but maybe it's just poor mass-market me that had to struggle to complete a few parts. Unfortunately this is a rare beast and, if you are interested in reading more about her at all, this is one of the few ways to go. Not the best pick for an introduction to modern Chinese history, however.
I picked up the book expecting to like it. I however thought the writing seemed patchy; it shone in some parts while it barely made a cursory effort in others. I would've thought that a story of such political intrigue could have been written in a more compelling fashion, but maybe it's just poor mass-market me that had to struggle to complete a few parts. Unfortunately this is a rare beast and, if you are interested in reading more about her at all, this is one of the few ways to go. Not the best pick for an introduction to modern Chinese history, however.