Search - Empress Orchid

Roughly the equivalent to the early years of Anne Boleyn--the Eastern version. Or possibly Evita. Empress Orchid is a fast paced yet delicate novel detailing the unlikely rise of an impoverished but decently pedigreed remote governor's daughter to become one of the seven Imperial wives of the last real emperor of China, circa 1861. The book offers an amazingly detailed look at what life was like in the Forbidden City, is impeccably researched and leaves one wondering what one would do when faced with the same challenges. I immediately ordered its sequel, The Last Empress, as I had to know how the story ends.

Very interesting book which sheds a lot of detail about the day to day life of someone living inside the forbidden city walls

A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year in 2004, this book has rich details and colorful historical background. It reminded me of a fairy tale. This story is of China's last empress with a solid view into the Forbidden City. Elle calls it a "sexually charged eye-opening portrayal of the Chinese empire ..... sensuality that rises off its heated pages."

When the description for this book claimed it was about Orchid's rise to power it wasn't kidding. It doesn't fall into the trap of many Asian concubine novels and focus on the make-up and clothes and cattiness of fellow concubines to win the affections of whatever man happens to be in charge. The book contains some of that but certainly it's shorter than most. The story is based on the life of a real woman who ascended to power to become China's last empress. As a result, I became familiar with a great deal of Chinese and Manchu court etiquette and hierarchies of power within that. This book was researched thoroughly. I was surprised to learn that Manchu women don't bind their feet and that it's an exclusively Chinese practice.

I enjoyed the character of Orchid because despite her protests to the contrary, she seemed extremely ambitious, almost to a fault. However, the author gave her a softer side and she wasn't completely inhuman and cruel. She was aggressive about fighting for justice and above all, China. I'll read more by this author.

What was so fascinating about this story is the way the history was woven into the very personal lives of the characters. This really explains Chinese culture in a vivid and sometimes tragic tapestry. Unforgettable!!

Very interesting. It made me want to research the Chinese Opium wars.