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Anchee Min
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Empress Orchid Paperback – 3 Jan. 2005

by Anchee Min (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,400 ratings
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'Empress Orchid is strong on both sexual chicanery and violent conspiracy ... fascinating' GUARDIAN

'An engrossing story ... enhanced by Min's imaginative power ... Like all good novelists, she implies as much as she says, and her characterisation is subtle and worldly-wise' GLASGOW HERALD
_________________________
It is the 19th century, and China is in chaos. One woman will rise from poverty to change its history for ever.

To rescue her family from poverty and avoid marrying her slope-shouldered cousin, seventeen-year-old Orchid competes to be one of the Emperor's wives.

When she is chosen as a lower-ranking concubine she enters the erotically charged and ritualised Forbidden City. But beneath its immaculate façade lie whispers of murders and ghosts, and the thousands of concubines will stoop to any lengths to bear the Emperor's son.

Orchid trains herself in the art of pleasuring a man, bribes her way into the royal bed, and seduces the monarch, drawing the attention of dangerous foes. Little does she know that China will collapse around her, and that she will be its last Empress...

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Empress Orchid
  2. Print length
    352 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Paperbacks
  5. Publication date
    3 Jan. 2005
  6. Dimensions
    12.8 x 2.3 x 19.7 cm
  7. ISBN-10
    9780747568339
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0747568339
  9. See all details
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Product description

Review

'Empress Orchid is strong on both sexual chicanery and violent conspiracy ... a fascinating account' ― Guardian

'A wild, passionate, fearless American writer' ― New York Times

'An engrossing story ... enhanced by Min's imaginative power ... Like all good novelists, she implies as much as she says, and her characterisation is subtle and worldly-wise' ― Glasgow Herald

'Rich in detail and historical background, the novel drenches readers in the colours, textures and affluence of the Forbidden City ... a stirring, exotic novel that is a treat for the senses and the intellect alike' ― Los Angeles Times

Book Description

An enthralling, erotic story of Imperial China from the author of Red Azalea and Becoming Madame Mao

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0747568332
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Paperbacks; First Edition (3 Jan. 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780747568339
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0747568339
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.8 x 2.3 x 19.7 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,400 ratings

About the author

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Anchee Min

Anchee Min

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Anchee Min was born in Shanghai in 1957. At seventeen she was sent to a labor collective, where a talent scout for Madame Mao's Shanghai Film Studio recruited her to work as a movie actress. She came to the United States in 1984 with the help of actress Joan Chen. Her memoir, Red Azalea, was named one of the New York Times Notable Books of 1994 and was an international bestseller, with rights sold in twenty countries. Her novels Becoming Madame Mao and Empress Orchid were published to critical acclaim and were national bestsellers. Her two other novels, Katherine and Wild Ginger, were published to wonderful reviews and impressive foreign sales.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
1,400 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating and compelling read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2023
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Thoroughly enjoyed this. It is beautifully written and I found it a compelling read with fascinating insights into this time in history.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars The book arrived in a worse condition than I was expecting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2017
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The book arrived in a worse condition than I was expecting. A pretty bad dent in the spine and the pages don't close together as nicely as a brand new book. That being said, I got what I paid for.
I had started reading this book on loan from the library but I didn't finish it or give it back in time so I can't take it out to read it again. I can finally finish it at last having my own copy haha!
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Liz Armstrong
5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious story of a forbidden world
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2019
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This novel was recommended to me after reading Memoirs of a Geisha and subsequently taking a real interest in historical China and Japan. I have just finished Empress Orchid and I enjoyed it so much!

The writing style took a little getting used to, as it can be a little matter of fact about some enormous situations, but I overcame that and have thoroughly enjoyed being transported into a totally amazing world through this book.

Such an incredible glimpse into life inside the Forbidden City in the 19th century, from ceiling to floor, plants, soil, animals, sights, sounds and smells- this book brought it all alive so beautifully. Orchid lived an amazing life and even more unbelievable to think it is based on true events and people.

I’ve been trying to time finishing this book with the arrival of the second one, The Last Empress, but I just couldn’t resist devouring the end of the story. Would definitely recommend this story for anyone wishing to be transported to a hidden world.
4 people found this helpful
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AngelaWheeler
3.0 out of 5 stars Monotonous and very odd style of writing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2020
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At first I enjoyed this book but after fifty or so pages I found it became tedious. I am halfway though and not sure I can finish it. So far, Orchid has been chosen as a concubine and has spent her first night with the Emperor and it's taken over 100 pages to get that far. Named Orchid in the book, history knows her as the Dowager Cixi.

The detail is overwhelming but it doesn't actually say much. Unless you are familiar with Chinese and world politics in the mid 19th century, the details of the events can be hard to follow. And of course it's all told from Cixi's perspective so it's hard to know how balanced that it.

The style of writing is odd. At times it reads as if it's an English translation of Chinese , even though the author has lived in the West for decades. The writing has a childlike quality about it- maybe that is intentional as the Empress is only seventeen - but equally there are some words and phrases that are right out of the 21stC (the use of 'gotten' for a start) and which are very out of place.

The final few pages read like something out of a bad Mills and Boon novel, with a bit of Indiana Jones added for action. In the Emperor's tomb, where he has been laid to rest, and standing next to the man she has the hots for, Orchid asks him to 'Take her' and he refuses. They fall into an embrace and manage to run to escape- only just- before the tomb is sealed with three large boulders. This is not a well-written book and hard to understand how it's so highly rated.

It's historical fiction so you are left wondering how much is the truth and how much is the author's imagination.
2 people found this helpful
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KFS
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 December 2022
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Great story, totally enthralled
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Moz33
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2021
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Fascinating read, learned so much about the political history of China, the forbidden city and the opium wars plus the day to day minutiae of ancient emperors and their many wives. Excellent.
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Annie Forsyth
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2016
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This book is brilliant. Whilst written as a story in the first person nonetheless the historical facts are all there. I learnt a lot about pre Moa China and now understand the part Western countries played in destroying another country with the arrogance and brutality of so called civilisation. I strongly recommend the book and if you also enjoy it I then recommend Wild Swans written by a survivor of Moa's reign. Another awesome book.
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Londoner
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2010
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I am a huge fan of Anchee Min and was very impressed and pleased with this book. Empress Orchid was an absolutely stunning book to read with a beautiful story line and with the very descriptive writing style, you become part of life in the Forbidden City. The story is interesting and keeps you captivated as you follow Orchid and the Royal Family through their highs and lows behind the walls of the Forbidden City. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on 4 June 2018
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a must read for everyone...
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GOPA BISWAS
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on 5 September 2018
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Like the intricate details of a bygone era. Captivating reading about this ancient civilization.
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Client Kindle
4.0 out of 5 stars Sympatique
Reviewed in France on 24 January 2013
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Le mix des genres roman de midinette (et côté exotique de la vie de harem) plus roman historique (avec guerre et même complots) fait que l'on passe un excellent moment. Quelques mois plus tard même si j'ai un peu oublié l'intrigue, j'ai encore bien en tête la situation politique de cette pauvre Chine de l'époque, mise à genoux par ses divers envahisseurs, européens et Japonais. Donc, points bonus pour la lesson d'Histoire.
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joanne
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on 15 July 2016
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Loved, travel with the empress through the world of men & prejudices
One person found this helpful
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Alison Curtis
5.0 out of 5 stars A great Read
Reviewed in Japan on 6 June 2014
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I loved this book especially as I visited the Forbidden City whilst reading it. Very moving tail of survival and betrayal.
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