The last decades of the nineteenth century were a violent period in China’s history marked by humiliating foreign incursions and domestic rebellion...
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reviews
Dec 06, 2008
Lydia
rated it: 
Definitely not as good as Empress Orchid. There were about 100 pages in the middle that I was really stuggling to get through....I enjoyed the first part and last parts a lot though. Ended up being glad I finished it.
In Empress Orchid they really got into who she was and why. This book seemed so busy trying to make it through the rest of her life that it wasn't as well developed. Perhaps she should have divided into 2 books...
I still found it a fascinating and educati More...
In Empress Orchid they really got into who she was and why. This book seemed so busy trying to make it through the rest of her life that it wasn't as well developed. Perhaps she should have divided into 2 books...
I still found it a fascinating and educati More...
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Jan 20, 2011
Suzan
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Novel fiksi sejarah karya Anchee Min berisi catatan kehidupan Ibusuri Cixi (disebut sebagai Anggrek) dari saat ia memperoleh kekuasaan sebagai Ibusuri Tzu-Hsi, hingga kematiannya pada usia 72 tahun. Novel ini merupakan sekuel dari novel Empress Orchid.
Cerita dimulai dengan kematian ibu Anggrek, dan meningkatnya konflik antaranya dengan Pangeran Kung mengenai masalah politik. Hubungan Anggrek dengan putranya, Tung Chih, juga memburuk. Bila dalam novel sebelumnya, kita akan dibawa deng More...
Cerita dimulai dengan kematian ibu Anggrek, dan meningkatnya konflik antaranya dengan Pangeran Kung mengenai masalah politik. Hubungan Anggrek dengan putranya, Tung Chih, juga memburuk. Bila dalam novel sebelumnya, kita akan dibawa deng More...
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Nov 02, 2011
Suzanne
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“I had to be strong for my son. Although Tung Chih, who was seven, had been Emperor for two years, since ascending the throne in 1861, his regime had been chaotic.”
The follow-up to her acclaimed Empress Orchid, Anchee Min continues to tell the story of real-life Empress Tzu Hsi, who governs China on behalf of her son in the midst of huge changes in the world order. China, which had always been resistant to change, was powerless as Japan took over parts of her provinces, while F More...
The follow-up to her acclaimed Empress Orchid, Anchee Min continues to tell the story of real-life Empress Tzu Hsi, who governs China on behalf of her son in the midst of huge changes in the world order. China, which had always been resistant to change, was powerless as Japan took over parts of her provinces, while F More...
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Jul 25, 2010
Khaya
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I'm not going to make it through 50 pages. First of all, as Jill noted in her review, Min basically takes what's written in the history books, puts quotes around it, and calls it dialogue, with occasional brief references to how it makes the empress feel. I felt this was true of Empress Orchid as well, and I don't have the patience to plow through another book like that. Second, as other goodreads reviewers noted, this book is extremely rushed, with each chapter picking up a few years after t
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Aug 06, 2008
Ladiibbug
rated it: 
" ... a powerful revisionist portrait [fictionalized account of a real historical person] of Tsu Hsi, Lady Yehonala, or Empress Orchid, who ruled China for more than 40 years in the late 1800's / early 1900's."
"The Dragon Lady" was portrayed in the Western press as a manipulative, blood-thirsty, ruthless woman who held on to power at all costs.
"The woman Anchee Min portrays gives us a compelling, very human leader who assumed power reluctantly and More...
"The Dragon Lady" was portrayed in the Western press as a manipulative, blood-thirsty, ruthless woman who held on to power at all costs.
"The woman Anchee Min portrays gives us a compelling, very human leader who assumed power reluctantly and More...
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Nov 22, 2011
Indri
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sekuel lanjutan dari empress orchid yang pertama.
bagian pertengahan lanjutan dari perjuangan seorang anggrek untuk menstabilkan kekacauan negara Cina akibat kesalahpahaman dan adu domba politik yang berujung pada peperangan dan penjajahan negara Cina oleh Inggris dan sekutu.
memang pada akhirnya beberapa bagian negara Cina berhasil diduduki oleh negara Inggris (dan sebagainyalah, saya lupa juga :D), akan tetapi anggrek tetap mampu mempertahankan harga diri bangsa dan berjuang hingga a More...
bagian pertengahan lanjutan dari perjuangan seorang anggrek untuk menstabilkan kekacauan negara Cina akibat kesalahpahaman dan adu domba politik yang berujung pada peperangan dan penjajahan negara Cina oleh Inggris dan sekutu.
memang pada akhirnya beberapa bagian negara Cina berhasil diduduki oleh negara Inggris (dan sebagainyalah, saya lupa juga :D), akan tetapi anggrek tetap mampu mempertahankan harga diri bangsa dan berjuang hingga a More...
Feb 12, 2011
Nives
rated it:
Autorica je uspjela uspješno spojiti opsežno povijesno istraživanje i dirljivu priču o tradicionalnoj Kini iz ženske perspektive pružajući suosjećajan prikaz života carice Orhideje. Čitajući se osjeća preobrazba mlade carice Orhideje u inst...inktivnu i mudru vladaricu koja nastoji razumno vladati i donositi odluke čak i onda kada se to protivi njezinim životnim stavovima.
Povijest ju inače prikazuje kao ženu zmaj, međutim autorica je uspjela objansiti i zašto se Orhideja morala tako predst More...
Povijest ju inače prikazuje kao ženu zmaj, međutim autorica je uspjela objansiti i zašto se Orhideja morala tako predst More...
May 22, 2009
Shauna
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 13, 2009
Elketw
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Category: Books
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Author: An Chee Min
Di sekuel ini Anchee Min meneruskan perjalanan panjang Anggrek aka Lady Yehonala, Tzu Chi, Ci Xi, dan Dragon Lady.
Min menggambarkan diri sang maharani sebagai sosok yang rapuh namun berkemauan besar untuk mempertahankan Cina dari kehancuran yang sedang dihadapi. Perjuangannya menjadikan anaknya Tung Cih sebagai kaisar yang besar Cina dan Guang Shu sebagai penerusnya.
Lembaran More...
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Author: An Chee Min
Di sekuel ini Anchee Min meneruskan perjalanan panjang Anggrek aka Lady Yehonala, Tzu Chi, Ci Xi, dan Dragon Lady.
Min menggambarkan diri sang maharani sebagai sosok yang rapuh namun berkemauan besar untuk mempertahankan Cina dari kehancuran yang sedang dihadapi. Perjuangannya menjadikan anaknya Tung Cih sebagai kaisar yang besar Cina dan Guang Shu sebagai penerusnya.
Lembaran More...
Jan 18, 2011
Beth
rated it:
I thought this book was absolutetly fascinating. The first book in the series Empress Orchid was an amazing book too. Detailing China's history, The Last Empress not only focuses on the Empress and her struggles, but also the struggle of China to merge its cultural past with the "western" technologies and advancements that are needed to enable China to compete in the world. This book made me want to take a Chinese history class. In both books by Anchee Min, I was amazed at the great le
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Dec 17, 2009
I am fascinated by Chinese history and read Anchee Min's book about Tzu Hsi's earler life in the court, "Empress Orchid". "The Last Empress" provides insight to her long life (73 years). She faced challenges with her son (named emperor, but died as a young adult), struggles with the political court, Chinese internal uprisings (i.e. warlords and the Boxer Rebellion) and with foreign powers. On her death bed she named Puyi as emperor. He was the last emperor of China.
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Jul 17, 2009
Kirsty
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This book picks up where its predecessor (Empress Orchid) left off. It continues to follow the life of China's last Empress, Tzu Hsi.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first. I think the main reason is that it felt rushed. The book follows the Empress from her late twenties until her death at age 73, therefore there was a large amount of ground to cover and I think it would have been better in two books rather than cramming it into one.
The story itself was still fa More...
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first. I think the main reason is that it felt rushed. The book follows the Empress from her late twenties until her death at age 73, therefore there was a large amount of ground to cover and I think it would have been better in two books rather than cramming it into one.
The story itself was still fa More...
Nov 09, 2010
Yun Zhen
rated it:
I thought perhaps this sequel to Empress Orchid might prove as vividly stunning but I was dismayed.
This sequel focuses largely on Empress Ci Xi's later life as a ruling regent for two different Emperors but seems to continually regurgitate historical facts and processes towards the second half of the book.
While the first half was not as disappointing, giving an account of how Empress Ci Xi tries hard to reconcile with her son, the second half merely uses the last few wars o More...
This sequel focuses largely on Empress Ci Xi's later life as a ruling regent for two different Emperors but seems to continually regurgitate historical facts and processes towards the second half of the book.
While the first half was not as disappointing, giving an account of how Empress Ci Xi tries hard to reconcile with her son, the second half merely uses the last few wars o More...
Jan 14, 2010
Nathan
rated it:
The best part is when the Empress dies. Not just because I couldn't stand the character, but that also meant I was finally done with the book.
Apparently the author was absent the day they gave the lecture on "Show-Don't Tell" in her creative writing class. I cringe saying this, knowing that she spent some of her early years in a Chinese labor camp (a horrid reason for missing vitally important instruction, if you plan on writing an engaging novel). I was hoping a histori More...
Apparently the author was absent the day they gave the lecture on "Show-Don't Tell" in her creative writing class. I cringe saying this, knowing that she spent some of her early years in a Chinese labor camp (a horrid reason for missing vitally important instruction, if you plan on writing an engaging novel). I was hoping a histori More...
Aug 18, 2009
Julianna
rated it:
This was a well written interesting book with limited appeal. I liked it but I have read quite a few Chinese novels. Chinese novels have a mindset and cadence that are difficult for most uninitiated Americans. Even if you like Jet Li movies with subtitles these Chinese novels are hard to get through.
The common Empirical Chinese novels are interesting up to a point and then they all tend to read the same...Chinese Royal family segregated from the rest of China, Women segregated from men, Ma More...
The common Empirical Chinese novels are interesting up to a point and then they all tend to read the same...Chinese Royal family segregated from the rest of China, Women segregated from men, Ma More...
Jan 06, 2012
Mary
rated it:
I read this book before I read "part one" ... Empress Orchid. I also read the audio version... I 'm not sure if it was the reader or the book but I did not like this book at all... It was somewhat interesting but very dry. Not as interesting as Empress Orchid. The author puts forth the idea that the Empress was not the monster that China and the western world claimed her to be at that time and even to this day. It is possible that she may have been erroneously vilified but it's h
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Oct 05, 2011
Lee Anne
rated it: 
This sequel to Empress Orchid couldn't help being less exciting, I suppose. Where the first novel had the wonder of discovering the Forbidden City, Orchid finding love with the Emperor and Yung Lu, her rivalry with Nuharoo, etc., this follow-up is mostly all politics and scheming. Yung Lu marries and moves away, so their tension of their unconsummated love dissipates; Nuharoo dies (no spoiler--everyone dies by the end of this one); the Boxer Rebellion is confusing, probably for the parties inv
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Jun 01, 2009
Jill
rated it:
If you loved Empress Orchid like I did, don't bother with this book. I don't say that often, and I don't think reading a review would have dissueded me from reading the sequel about the rule of the Grand Dowager Empress. However, Min seemed to have forgotten how to tell a story. The dialogue was atrocious. She basically just took crib notes of the facts she uncovered and formed them into sentences and then followed them up with a sentence of the Empress revealing her true feelings about it. Se
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Feb 20, 2011
Ariella
rated it:
Sooooooooooooooooooo disappointed!!!!!! The sequel to Empress Orchid. At least I could read the first book. Not the best piece of literature ever written, but there was a story and characters and you cared (or I did) about what happened to them. And it was just interesting to read about a topic I know nothing about. But this book, I couldnt even finish it. And I am not looking for intellectual stimulation. I just need brain candy at the moment,so really my standards are kind of low. But even
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Jun 14, 2011
Mary
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I didn't think much of this, and in retrospect wish I had not bothered. I read Orchid, which I thought was weak, but then happened to visit the Forbidden City, and happened onto the Empress's lodgings there, so thought this would be a good way to get an update on the historical period. Overall this was ponderous - while clearly based on letters and writings, it had little life of its own. In some cases more background would have brought the text to life (e.g., a better explanation of the civ
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Nov 24, 2010
Claire
rated it:
The sequel to 'Empress Orchid'. I enjoyed this just as much as it's predecessor. As before it was often difficult to remember that it is a fictional account, and not fact. She became a very sympathetic character and I really felt for her - both for all the tragedies she had to overcome, and for the weight on her shoulders. The end note was very interesting as well - sad that she was really all that was holding China together.
I will definitely now read more on the history of China, these tw More...
I will definitely now read more on the history of China, these tw More...
Jan 29, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Alright, I admit it, this isn't really a 4 star book. But it gets a bonus star because I live within 100 yards of Li Lian-ying's grave and while I've known since I moved in here that "the most famous eunuch in China's history is buried there," I didn't know anything about him. I now know his name and a bit more about him. I also learned a bit mre about Cixi and some of the pressures she was under. Continuing with my recent odd pattern, I read this book before the one about how she join
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Jul 10, 2011
Suzanna
rated it:
I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as Empress Orchid, but it was interesting and informative. For me, the feeling of The Last Empress was entirely different. It carried a sense of an historical account, instead of the pleasant story telling of Empress Orchid. If I had to guess, I would say Anchee Min compiled her facts and wrote the history of this woman's life, then added some personal sounding items for color. Granted, to some degree historical fiction works that way, but this book F
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Jul 27, 2011
Alyn
rated it:
i give it 3.75 stars. even without reading Empress Orchid which is the first book (and reportedly a winner!)
The book showed some heart warming moments! Dragon Lady seemed more "human". I don't want to go into the details so as not to spoil it for you. but I still think it is a very enjoyable and informative read.
Anchee Min gave info on how Japan, Russia and other foreign allies invaded colonies of China, and how we now have Taiwan, Burma, Nepal, Hongkong and Mac More...
The book showed some heart warming moments! Dragon Lady seemed more "human". I don't want to go into the details so as not to spoil it for you. but I still think it is a very enjoyable and informative read.
Anchee Min gave info on how Japan, Russia and other foreign allies invaded colonies of China, and how we now have Taiwan, Burma, Nepal, Hongkong and Mac More...
Aug 04, 2011
Glad I went back & read Empress Orchid again before reading this because I don't think I would've enjoyed it as much and I'd forgotten so much from the first book. Although not essential to read them in order as some gaps are filled in, you would really lose the overall experience and understanding of where everything comes from if not. Reading them back to back like this also improves the rating of this book. Thoroughly enjoyed the insight into China's history this book and Empress Orchid gave.
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Jun 05, 2011
Emma
rated it:
The way this is written it seems like the later years of th Empress' life were consumed with preparing and mentoring leaders of China. As a result the book feels similar to books that discuss military campaigns at length. For me it wasn't exciting or the type of tale that usually interests me but I was intrigued by the idea of how history told. I was fascinated by the perceptions of China that were published in well respected newspapers. If Min's portrayal of the Empress are true easy to see the
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Feb 22, 2011
Mary Ann (MAA)
rated it:
Interesting read due to historical setting in China in 19th century and early 20th century. I'd recommend doing some background reading on China during this period as well as the last empress. I did this after I read the book and it substantiated much of the history. Tho the book is a novel is very much grounded in fact. The author portrays other (possible) sides of the empress besides the popular one of 'Dragon Lady'. It is a bit challenging to keep the characters straight when you are unfa
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Jun 28, 2010
Mary
rated it:
The sequel to Empress Orchid was a lot more technical; her life changed from personal details to affairs of state and the country of China. The reader is left with the intended feeling of frustration that the character is supposed to have experienced, while understanding that the author is trying to tell us the other side of the story from the current history books. Since I never knew the first side, I was glad the author made it clear that her research didn't necessarily match other informati
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May 08, 2010
dioscurio
rated it:
Ada perbedaan besar antara membaca buku sejarah dan historical fiction. Orang2 mungkin berpikir buku sejarah tidak terlalu memihak dibandingkan historical fiction yang (biasanya) menggunakan sudut pandang salah satu tokoh tertentu, yang berarti kita memandang sejarah melalui emosi dan kacamata si tokoh.
Sayang, bukan itu perbedaannya. Justru kesamaan dari keduanya adalah subjektifitas. Meski keberpihakan dalam buku sejarah mungkin lebih tersamarkan. Sementara historical fiction, sebag More...
Sayang, bukan itu perbedaannya. Justru kesamaan dari keduanya adalah subjektifitas. Meski keberpihakan dalam buku sejarah mungkin lebih tersamarkan. Sementara historical fiction, sebag More...
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Sep 11, 2011
Yas
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Paperback version: 414 Pages
Genre: Chinese/Asian Fiction/ Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:
The Last Empress is the second of two books which concern the rule of China in the 18/19th century.
The first named Empress Orchid (as reviewed here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13925...) told of how the main character Orchid came from a very poor family and ended up being made concubine to the Emporer of the time. It tells the difficulties of her life, More...
Genre: Chinese/Asian Fiction/ Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:
The Last Empress is the second of two books which concern the rule of China in the 18/19th century.
The first named Empress Orchid (as reviewed here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13925...) told of how the main character Orchid came from a very poor family and ended up being made concubine to the Emporer of the time. It tells the difficulties of her life, More...
