Empress Dowager Cixi

At sixteen, Cixi became a concubine to Emperor Xianfeng. After his death, she launched a coup to become the true power behind the throne, governing China through a silk screen. Jung Chang's biography, drawing on new sources, challenges Cixi's historical reputation as a despot, revealing her as a pivotal figure who modernized China with industries, railways, and electricity. This dramatic account also highlights her efforts to abolish foot-binding and advance women's liberation, reshaping our understanding of a crucial era in Chinese history.