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| Jung Chang writes 'groundbreaking' new biography | Jung Chang writes 'groundbreaking' new biography |
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| Wild Swans author Jung Chang's first book in eight years, the "extraordinary" story of the Empress Dowager Cixi, will be released this autumn, her publisher has announced. | Wild Swans author Jung Chang's first book in eight years, the "extraordinary" story of the Empress Dowager Cixi, will be released this autumn, her publisher has announced. |
| Chang has based her biography on "long and detailed" research in newly opened Chinese and western archives, said publisher Jonathan Cape, and has revealed "a totally different picture" of Cixi "to the one that has prevailed for a hundred years". One of Emperor Xianfeng's many concubines, Cixi rose through the ranks by producing an heir, Tongzhi, and when Xianfeng died in 1861 she ousted other contenders and installed herself as sole regent for her son, ruling China for 47 years. | Chang has based her biography on "long and detailed" research in newly opened Chinese and western archives, said publisher Jonathan Cape, and has revealed "a totally different picture" of Cixi "to the one that has prevailed for a hundred years". One of Emperor Xianfeng's many concubines, Cixi rose through the ranks by producing an heir, Tongzhi, and when Xianfeng died in 1861 she ousted other contenders and installed herself as sole regent for her son, ruling China for 47 years. |
| Chang's last book, Mao: The Unknown Story, was published in 2005. Her "groundbreaking" new biography will "comprehensively overturn … the conventional view of Cixi as a deeply conservative and cruel despot", said Jonathan Cape, and show how she abolished foot-binding, developed foreign trade and diplomacy, and revolutionised China's education system. | Chang's last book, Mao: The Unknown Story, was published in 2005. Her "groundbreaking" new biography will "comprehensively overturn … the conventional view of Cixi as a deeply conservative and cruel despot", said Jonathan Cape, and show how she abolished foot-binding, developed foreign trade and diplomacy, and revolutionised China's education system. |
| "Jung Chang looks in detail at her conduct of domestic and foreign affairs, but also takes us into Cixi's splendid Summer Palace, where she lived surrounded by eunuchs. The world Jung Chang describes here, in fascinating detail, seems almost incredible, a unique mixture of the very old and the very new," said the publisher. "This biography will revolutionise historical thinking about a crucial period in China's – and the world's – history." | "Jung Chang looks in detail at her conduct of domestic and foreign affairs, but also takes us into Cixi's splendid Summer Palace, where she lived surrounded by eunuchs. The world Jung Chang describes here, in fascinating detail, seems almost incredible, a unique mixture of the very old and the very new," said the publisher. "This biography will revolutionise historical thinking about a crucial period in China's – and the world's – history." |
| Chang is best known for the bestselling Wild Swans, which looks at the history of China through the lives of her grandmother, her mother and herself, and has sold 10m copies worldwide. Empress Dowager Cixi will be published on 3 October. | Chang is best known for the bestselling Wild Swans, which looks at the history of China through the lives of her grandmother, her mother and herself, and has sold 10m copies worldwide. Empress Dowager Cixi will be published on 3 October. |
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