19. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
Synopsis (from Amazon)
A poor girl from rural China auditions for a job as royal concubine, winds up as emperor's wife number four, gives birth to the "last Emperor," rules China as regent for 46 years. The fascinating, implausible life of Tsu Hsi, or "Orchid," was reviled by the revolutionary Chinese, but here it receives a sympathetic treatment from Min (Red Azalea; Becoming Madame Mao). Sexually assertive, intellectually ambitious, socially striving, Min's Orchid is also "isolated, tense, and in some vague but very real way, dissatisfied." Even after giving birth to the emperor's only son, Orchid feels trapped by the stultifying imperial rituals and persecuted by the other residents of the Forbidden City: six other royal wives, 3,000 invisible concubines and 2,000 scheming eunuchs. In addition to these powerful distractions, she has to discipline her overindulged son, outmaneuver the ruthless politician Su Shun (who wants her buried alive when the emperor dies) and advise the ailing emperor how to fend off both the Boxers and the Western "barbarians."
Review
I knew next to nothing about this period in history previously and it was definitely enlightening. I appreciated how strong a woman Orchid was, that even though she was constrained by so many rules and rituals and prejudices that she was able to take action and kick against the goads so to speak. Nuharoo was excessively banal, and it's hard to believe their society succeeded for so many generations with the counterproductive way they brought up Emperors. It makes me want to look into the actions of the English at that time. It seems terribly unfair but the opinions were from the mouth of accused.
The writing itself was nothing special, to the point and fact filled, a bit bland at times if you take out the flowery names given to every room and hall . Unusually, the first half was far better than the second--mainly because the story was more interesting. Less gossipy court intrigue and more rise of the underdog. If you're already interested in China or royalty or that period of time I'd definitely recommend it. If not, then it's quite a slog.
6/10
Next I'm picking up Lolita