Rating: Not rated
Tags: History, China, Lang:en
Summary
In this epic account, drawing on overlooked and previously
unpublished sources, the Seagraves destroy the long-held legend
that demonized Dowager Empress Cixi [Tsu Hsi] as a murderous,
sex-crazed monster, and present a startling and critical
"flip-side" portrait. They provide overwhelming evidence that
scholars were deceived by demented counterfeiter Sir Edmund
Backhouse, and two lazy and unscrupulous journalists for The
Times of London, whose lies, inflammatory articles, and books
enflamed and defined world opinion, wreaking havoc on China
with misguided policies, Western invasions, atrocities, looting
and pillaging. The Seagraves have made a brilliant career of
exploding sacred cows and correcting historical falsehoods,
criminality and propaganda. What emerges is a true portrait of
a lonely, semi-literate figurehead, manipulated by reactionary
Manchu princes. Essential reading for anyone interested in
China. ** "An all-out revisionist assault on the established
perception of Tzu Hsi...Seagrave provides as sad and outrageous
a record of imperialism as can be found anywhere in the world."
"An all-out revisionist assault on the established
perception of Tzu Hsi...Seagrave provides as sad and outrageous
a record of imperialism as can be found anywhere in the world."
Review
--The San Francisco ChronicleFrom the Publisher
--The San Francisco Chronicle