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Imperial Woman

The Story of the Last Empress of China

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Imperial Woman

Written by: Pearl S. Buck
Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
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The story of Tzu Hsi is the story of the last empress in China. In this audiobook, Pearl S. Buck recreates the life of one of the most intriguing rulers during a time of intense turbulence.

Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. According to custom, she moved to the Forbidden City at the age of 17 to become one of hundreds of concubines. But her singular beauty and powers of manipulation quickly moved her into the position of Second Consort. Tzu Hsi was feared and hated by many in the court, but adored by the people. The Empress’s rise to power (even during her husband’s life) parallels the story of China’s transition from the ancient to the modern way.

Pearl S. Buck’s knowledge of and fascination with the empress’s life are contagious. She reveals the essence of this self-involved and infamous last empress, at the same time she takes the listener through China’s struggle for freedom and democracy.

©1971 Pearl S. Buck (P)2011 Oasis Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction
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I fell in love with Peatl S Buck's writing again with " Imperial Woman" ...rediscovered a wonderfully engaging writer whose insights into human psyche,  and whose keen eye that  never fails to miss  even the smallest detail of a situation simple or complicated. Her descriptions are like painted pictures, each stroke carefully worded, vivid with colours that can be heard and imagined:
words that are most apt, that fall on the ears like soft music.  Her word pictures make you long to see those places, experience those beauties. Her characterization is unparalleled,  especially that of the Imperial Woman,  Empress Dowager Cixi.

I enjoyed every word of the narration, in Kirsten Potter's  sweet, gentle, well modulated voice. Every emotion rightly conveyed with the correct dose of articulation,  neither more nor less.

An extremely captivating story, unstoppable in its flow.
17 hours passed like a short time as I was under the spell of her magic...I was in the world of Imperial China,  its intriguing customs,  unbreakable and often appaling traditions, the court politics and the concubine conspiracies...a world long gone by but nevertheless absolutely fascinating and enigmatic.

Vijaya Pratap

The Power of Beauty and Brains

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