Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

Fascinating view of a declining China

Customer Rating:

Empress Orchid tells the tale of the early life of Empress Dowager Cixi, the last empress of China. She is a controversial figure, often blamed for the downfall of the Qing dynasty and Imperial China. It is somewhat accepted now that she may not have been as despotic as comtemporary press made her out to be, but she was definitely of a conservative and nationalistic political stance. Anchee Min's dramatisation of her early life is largely sympathetic and somewhat romantic. Orchid enters the Forbidden City at a long age, having been selected through open competition to be a concubine and wife to the Emperor Hsien Feng. Her early time in the compound are filled with loneliness and desolation as she remains unselected for the Imperial bed. She begins to play the system, resulting in becoming a favourite of the emperor, bearing him a male heir, and gaining exposure to the political and foreign pressures faced by the emperor. The book follows Orchid's life as the health of both the emperor and China itself decline. Orchid is forced to come into a more open role in order to secure the future of her son. We are treated to glimpses of a sympathetic, yet driven and manipulative character. Upon finishing the book, you aren't too sure who Orchid really was, whether she was truly a person capable of manouvers, or whether life in the Forbidden city had turned her into such a person. This is an excellently colourful book, packed with descriptions of the costumes and courts of the era. However, it also captures the sense of decline and confusion that must have been rampant in the China of the time.

Engrossing and insightful book

Customer Rating:

I had bought this to read on holiday, but decided to begin reading early and was completely hooked, and ended up buying the sequel to take with me too! I had an interest in Far Eastern history, but this book led me to research it even more. The accuracy and storylines based around life in and out the Forbidden City, especially the portrayal of eunuchs and the lives of concubines, means I would definitely recommend this book, even if you have no prior interest in the topic at hand.

A must...For anyone.

Customer Rating:

An amazing book by such a strong woman, I picked this book up and didn't put it down, I wept, laughed and felt so much for the charatcers in this book, it started my fascination with this time period and culture, and also the incredible Anchee Min- I must recommend that everyone watch the interview on youtube with Anchee Min, and must recommend this:Red Azalea amazing...I love Empress Orchid so much, and the follow on is pretty spell binding too.

Amaaaaaaazing!!!

Customer Rating:

After I had seen this book on richard and judy and as I already had an interest in chinese history I decided to buy the book and i wasn't dissapointed. Anchee Min recreates the lost splendours of imperial china and the forbidden city with amazing accuracy. I couldn't put the book down and have read it three times, most recently last week and I have just found out that the next instalment about the Empress Dowager "The last empress" is now out and have already ordered it! I hope it's as good as the first and i'm really impatiently waiting for it to arive. I recomend "Empress Orchid" to everybody.

Fascinating and Brilliant.

Customer Rating:

Before I brought Empress Orchid I read a review written by someone else that said that it was such a super book it had inspired them to want to visit The Forbidden City. Having read the book myself, I have to say I agree. Brilliantly written, the storyline itself was gripping as well as eye-opening and fascinating. As someone who was totally ignorant on matters such as Chinese history, Emporers, Eunuchs, etc. I didn't find it hard going at all and in fact, couldn't put it down - Anchee Min's writing style is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and would recommend it to anyone wanting a gripping read.