What readers think of Empress Orchid, plus links to write your own review.

This beautiful book recreates the lives - and frustrations - of some of the residents of the Forbidden City at a tumultus time in China's history, during the challenges and chaos of the opium wars and encroachment by colonial powers on China's territory, culture and traditions. As well as revealing the life and times of an amazingly intelligent survivor in the slow demise of the Imperial regime.... A wonderful book!