Details About Books Empress
| Title | : | Empress |
| Author | : | Shan Sa |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 336 pages |
| Published | : | May 2nd 2006 by Harper (first published 2003) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Cultural. China. Fiction |
Shan Sa
Hardcover | Pages: 336 pages Rating: 3.7 | 5634 Users | 431 Reviews
Description Concering Books Empress
A ravishing historical novel of one of China's most controversial historical figures: its first and only female emperor, Empress Wu, who emerged in the Tang Dynasty and ushered in a golden age.In seventh–century China, during the great Tang dynasty, a young girl from the humble Wu clan entered the imperial gynaecium, which housed ten thousand concubines. Inside the Forbidden City, she witnessed seductions, plots, murders, and brazen acts of treason. Propelled by a shrewd intelligence, an extraordinary persistence, and a friendship with the imperial heir, she rose through the ranks to become the first Empress of China. On the one hand, she was a political mastermind who quelled insurrections, eased famine, and opened wide the routes of international trade. On the other, she was a passionate patron of the arts who brought Chinese civilization to unsurpassed heights of knowledge, beauty, and sophistication.
And yet, from the moment of her death to the present day, her name has been sullied, her story distorted, and her memoirs obliterated by men taking vengeance on a women who dared become Emperor. For the first time in thirteen centuries, Empress Wu flings open the gates of her Forbidden City and tells her own astonishing tale–revealing a fascinating, complex figure who in many ways remains modern to this day.
Mention Books Toward Empress
| Original Title: | Impératrice |
| ISBN: | 0060817585 (ISBN13: 9780060817589) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | Prix des lecteurs du Livre de Poche for Littérature (2005) |
Rating About Books Empress
Ratings: 3.7 From 5634 Users | 431 ReviewsCriticize About Books Empress
I've noticed that most poets are not particularly good at writing novels (they are much better at crafting short stories). Perhaps this is why I found Shan Sa's book something of a surprise. The author's voice is highly distinct. The writing is poetic, but don't let this fool you. Although the passages are often lyrical, Shan Sa has shown an admirable attention to detail. I fully agree with one of the other Goodreads reviewers, who made a connection between Sa's skill as a painter and herTo be rated/reviewed closer to this month's book club meetingI had a very hard time getting through this book and even harder time settling on how to rate/review it. I am reluctant to give one star ratings for a few reasons...but...while I appreciated the author's ambition in telling the story of this controversial woman, and felt that the translation was extremely well-done, this was not the book for me. If I hadn't been the one who nominated it for my book club, I probably would have stopped
The Empress is a poetic tale that gives one an in-depth look into the life of Empress Wu. The ruthless tactics used on the throne may shock one, but the author constructs the novel so that one understands the culture of the time. This book can get tedious at times with detail, but the overall story is strong and a person interested in Chinese history will enjoy the vivid descriptions!
There's a story behind my reading this book. I am, by habit a reader of 'genre fiction' which means stories about Spaceman Gort and the Flying Death Pygmies of Planet Bimbotron and things like that. At the Barnes and Noble I typically shop for books at, the Spaceman Gort section is crammed far into the back, covered in cobwebs, and filled with a droning voice that tells you how ashamed you should be for reading this drivel. Perhaps I exaggerate.On the way to Spaceman Gort and the lovely ladies
Oh, dear lord, this was a boring book.Because the subject is historically significant, I felt obligated to keep reading. What a chore that was. I skimmed, and still had to finally throw in the towel without finishing the last 50 pages or so.The story of the Empress is told in the first person, from before her birth until, well, I don't really know how it ended, do I? But since she narrated her time in the womb, and her birth, I assume the book ends with her description of her death and funeral,
i learned a lot reading this book. it was fascinating in my foreign eyes. but empress Wu was a scary character. you can almost say that no matter how.much she had, she always wanted more, and that's dangerous. although being historically interesting,the book was also full of drama and at times drag on. too long. and none of the chatacters was actually likable. Wu was amazing- power driven, smart, calculative, and once in a while showing emotions- emotions that were fake in my eyes. she was a
There's a story behind my reading this book. I am, by habit a reader of 'genre fiction' which means stories about Spaceman Gort and the Flying Death Pygmies of Planet Bimbotron and things like that. At the Barnes and Noble I typically shop for books at, the Spaceman Gort section is crammed far into the back, covered in cobwebs, and filled with a droning voice that tells you how ashamed you should be for reading this drivel.Perhaps I exaggerate.On the way to Spaceman Gort and the lovely ladies of
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