Imperial Woman (Buck, Pearl S. Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck, 3rd,)

Rating:
Summary: Ruthless Ambition
Review: All about Tzu-Hsi, last empress of China, who reigned from the 1860's until her death in 1908. She reigned during a period of great transition in China, as the book goes on there is increasing pressure from outside - the nations of England, France, Russia, United States and others demand from China increased trade and the rights to allow their citizens to live in China and their priests & missionaries to travel wherever they please. Japan too is an ever present threat. The empress was unable to adapt to modern times, and rather than building modern ships and arms that would have enabled China to defend itself, all the taxes collected were spent on luxuries and palaces for her, only at the very end of her days after defeat did she accept the idea that China could not keep itself isolated from all the other peoples of the world and finally opened to the idea of sending Chinese abroad to study foreign ways.

The story begins with the teenager Yehonala, betrothed to Jung-Lu, she and her cousin Sakota are chosen to be royal concubines of the Emperor, a sickly and weak man who so far has been unable to produce an heir. Through sheer guile and ambition, Yehonala becomes the favorite, and produces a son for the Emperor (or is it his son?). When the emperor dies, she becomes Empress mother, regent for her still young son, and upon his death she seizes the throne and becomes Empress in her own right, first sharing the throne with her cousin Sakota, then finally alone. As Empress of China, Tzu-Hsi has absolute power and can raise people up or down, have them beheaded or bestow mercy according to her whim, but she is unloved and deeply lonely as the extremely powerful often are.

This is a great novel, there is never a dull moment or wasted word and I found it hard to put down, this is a fascinating look at Chinese history and Tzu-Hsi herself is unforgettable. Selfish and sometimes foolish as she is, the reader is compelled to like her. I remember first reading about Tzu-Hsi in a novel called the Forbidden City by Muriel Jernigan and I never forgot her, it was a real treat to discover this book, a really great work of historical fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Imperial Woman: Anything a man can do she can do better!
Review: Imperial Woman tells the story of Tzu Hsi (pronounced Cixi). She was a well-known leader because not only was she the last empress of China, but also she was strong, smart, fierce, and efficient. The story begins with young Yehonala, a beautiful and spirited girl who is engaged to her cousin. Every year, as it is considered an honor, women are picked to become the Emperor's concubines. Yehonala and her cousin, Sakota, are picked and are taken away from their family, never to be seen again. The first portion of the book describes how Yehonala wants to stand out from the others so she will be picked by the emperor to become his head concubine. She plays the part of a spoiled brat well. This includes sleeping in, making sarcastic comments, not lifting a finger to help wash herself, and looking the emperor straight in the eye (in China you cannot look past mid-chest of the emperor). The emperor is attracted to her and she and Sakota are picked to be the head concubines. Yehonala waits to be summoned by the emperor and befriends the emperor's mother the Dowager Empress. Meanwhile, Sakota is in the emperor's company and soon it is announced that she is with child. Now that the emperor has 'paid his debt to society' his attention wanders to Yehonala and she is summoned. There she loses her innocence forever in more ways then one. Yehonala becomes the new favorite and secures that role by giving birth to a son and she is crowned 'Fortunate Mother'. This gives her a position higher than anyone in the palace.
The second portion of the book tells of the death of the emperor and dowager princess. Yehonala and Sakota become the Dowager Empresses and are equal in power. But tongues are beginning to wag. Is Yehonala's son the emperor's child? Is someone plotting against Yehonala? Why is Sakota behaving so icily toward her? Yehonala must answer the questions to save not only her son and her own life but also the kingdom. Learning to trust no one but her 'loyals', Yehonala rules the kingdom with a strong hand.
The main characters shape Imperial Woman. Pearl Buck does a phenomenal job of portraying her characters. They are also easy to connect with and you find yourself cheering for Yehonala. You share the emotions with the characters, when Yehonala is distressed because she will never be able to marry the love of her life now that she is the emperor's concubine; you find that you are crying with her. The main characters are Yehonala/ Tzu Hsi, Sakota, Li Lieng the Eunuch, The General of the Imperial Guard (Yehonala's cousin), The Emperor, and Tung Chih.
Yehonala is the main character and protagonist of the story. She is the spirited concubine who becomes the Emperor's favorite. She moves through many roles such as third rank concubine, first rank concubine, Fortunate Mother, Sacred Mother (Tzu Hsi), Consort, Empress of the Western Palace, Empress Mother, Empress Regent, and finally, Empress Dowager'the Old Buddha. Sakota is Yehonala's cousin and started as a first rank concubine. She was the first concubine because her father died fighting for the late Emperor, so the current Emperor owed it to her for her father's act of bravery. After she gets pregnant, the emperor has done his duty and his attention wanders to Yehonala. She soon becomes the Emperor's favorite and gives him a son. In ancient China, they did not realize the affects that opium taken in large quantities, every day would have on their bodies. Instead, it was believed that it had healing properties and would make you better and there was not such a thing as too much. So because of the large amount of opium they were giving the Emperor to heal him it eventually killed him. Li Lieng the Eunuch is probably the most loyal member to Yehonala. Even when she was third rank concubine he was loyal. When Yehonala finally asked him why he helped her because she had nothing to give him and she could not pay he replies 'I know what your destiny is ' When you rise toward the Dragon Throne I will rise with you, always your servant and your slave.' Li Lieng brought Yehonala gossip and news. He influenced major princes because the Eunuchs wielded much power. Li Lieng helped Yehonala privately meet the General of the Imperial Guard, her cousin who she was in love with, although there are suspicions that Li Lieng was in love with Yehonala as well. The General of the Imperial Guard was Yehonala's cousin who she had been engaged to before she became the Emperor's concubine. They were very in love and arranged secret meetings with the help of Li Lieng. The General eventually got married to Yehonala's favorite maid so as to avert suspicions of an affair. Last but not least is Tung Chih. Tung Chih was Yehonala's son and the new Emperor of China. He did not have much time to rule because he died young and his wife was so heartbroken she killed herself. This left Yehonala to pick someone else to rule.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: Imperial Woman tells the story of Tzu-Hsi, the last Empress of China. It is well known that she was a formidable, fierce and cruelly efficient leader, but this story begins when she is a beautiful young teenager, vibrant, full of life, and deeply in love with her cousin, a handsome and stalwart guard at the Imperial Palace.

As was the custom in the day (as I learned from this book), the Emperor yearly picked a new crop of concubines from the daughters of the wealthy of China. It was considered a great honor to send one's daughter into whoredom at the palace, and the shocking details of how they were chosen and used make up the first part of the book. Our heroine, who is still known by her childhood name, Yehonala, is sent, along with her cousin Sakota--both are picked. On one inevitable night, Yehonala is sent to the Emperor's bedroom, and there loses her innocence forever, in more ways than one.

Swiftly becoming the Emperor's favorite, our heroine learns the intrigues of the palace, learning to trust nobody but to rely on only those closest to her. She consolidates her position by giving birth to the Emperor's only son, thus receiving the new name of "fortunate mother"--and a place of power higher than any woman in the palace.

But was the Emperor's son really his son? Can the formerly innocent concubine, fast becoming a political player worthy of anybody in today's world, stay alive to see her son crowned? Or will she be murdered in the truly baroque but terribly dangerous palace in-wars?

All is told in this fascinating book, written in Buck's simple but elegant style. This is one of her best, and well worth finding and reading.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning Book
Review: Pearl Buck never ceases to amaze all who are fortunate enough to come across any of her works. The Imperial Woman is an astoundingly human book about Tzu Hsi, the Empress Dowager of the Forbidden City, and her ability to move people to this day with her fierce, courageous spirit. One might think she was Queen Elizabeth reincarnated. Be ready to read on and on -- you won't be able to put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Equal to "The Good Earth" --a dramatic saga
Review: The story of Tzu Hsi, last Empress of the Manchu empire of China, is dramatic and reads like a novel. Pearl Buck, who grew up in China and was there as a child while the Empress was alive, draws from the attitudes of the country people towards their almost mythical ruler "Old Buddha." While Buck takes liberties with some of the history, the story is essentially correct while giving an imperial-eye-view of how the times must have seemed to the woman who ruled for decades in turbulent times. The language is exquisite, the story is exciting. One of Buck's best novels and an enjoyable read for anyone who loves historical novels.

Rating:
Summary: Pearl S. Buck's finest book-- and that's saying a lot.
Review: Though Tzu Hsi (pronounced Sue- Z) was the last Empress of China very little of her life-- both personal and private-- is known. Much as been written about this unfortunate woman; nearly all of it speculation and a good deal of it obscene. In her book "Imperial Woman" Mrs. Buck trys her hand at telling the story of Tzu Hsi and,in my opinion, comes about as close to the real woman as we're ever going to find. Tzu Hsi here is no cardboard figure but a flesh and blood woman with fear, ambition,helpless, cunning, triumphants, and deep loniless. All set mid-late 19th century China in a court, in a county, weak and rotting from the inside out while struggling to deal wth coming of the West and the 20th century. The characterization, dialogue, and discription are magnificent. A "must read"-- definatly!