From the Book - First American edition.
The imperial concubine in stormy times (1835-1861). Concubine to an emperor (1835-56) ; From the Opium War to the burning of the old Summer Palace (1839-60) ; Emperor Xianfeng dies (1860-61) ; The coup that changed China
Reigning behind her sons' throne (1861-1875). First step on the long road to modernity (1861-9) ; Virgin journeys to the West (1861-71) ; Love doomed (1869) ; A vendetta against the West (1869-71) ; Life and death of Emperor Tongzhi (1861-1875)
Ruling through an adopted son (1875-1889). A three-year-old is made emperor (1875) ; Modernisation accelerates (1875-89) ; Defender of the empire (1875-89)
Emperor Guangxu takes over (1889-1898). Guangxu alienated from Cixi (1875-94) ; The Summer Palace (1886-94) ; In retirement and in leisure (1889-94) ; War with Japan (1894) ; A peace that ruined China (1895) ; The scramble for China (1895-8)
To the front of the stage (1898-1901). The reforms of 1898 ; A plot to kill Cixi (September 1898) ; Desperate to dethrone her adopted son (1898-1900) ; To war against the world powers : with the Boxers (1899-1900) ; Fighting to a bitter end (1900) ; Flight (1900-1) ; Remorse (1900-1)
The real revolution of modern China (1901-1908). Return to Beijing (1901-2) ; Making friends with Westerners (1902-7) ; Cixi's revolution (1902-8) ; The vote! (1905-8) ; Coping with insurgencies, assassins, and the Japanese (1902-8) ; Deaths
China after Empress Dowager Cixi.
From the Book - First American edition.
The imperial concubine in stormy times (1835-1861)
Reigning behind her sons' throne (1861-1875)
Ruling through an adopted son (1875-1889)
Emperor Guangxu takes over (1889-1898)
To the front of the stage (1898-1901)
The real revolution of modern China (1901-1908)
Epilogue: China after Empress Dowager Cixi.
