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EMPRESS ORCHID by Anchee Min ~ 2004 HC/DJ ~ 1st Edition 1st Printing + Cover
US $3.90
ApproximatelyAU $5.98
Condition:
“Dust Jacket is Excellent, Book is MINT”
Like new
A book that looks new but has been read. Cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket (if applicable) is included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
- Buy It NowEMPRESS ORCHID by Anchee Min ~ 2004 HC/DJ ~ 1st Edition 1st Printing + Cover
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Postage:
US $5.97 (approx. AU $9.15) USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: Wichita, Kansas, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Thu, 14 Aug and Wed, 20 Aug to 94104
Returns:
30-day returns. Buyer pays for return postage. If you use an eBay postage label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
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eBay item number:123733850598
Item specifics
- Condition
- Like new
- Seller notes
- “Dust Jacket is Excellent, Book is MINT”
- Country/Region of Manufacture
- United States
- Subject
- Forbidden City inits Last Days
- Special Attributes
- 1st Printing, Clear Dust Jacket Cover, 1st Edition, Dust Jacket
- ISBN
- 9780618068876
About this product
Product Information
The setting is China's Forbidden City in the last days of its imperial glory, a vast complex of palaces and gardens run by thousands of eunuchs and encircled by a wall in the center of Peking. In this highly ordered place -- tradition-bound, ruled by strict etiquette, rife with political and erotic tension -- the Emperor, "the Son of Heaven," performs two duties: he must rule the court and conceive an heir. To achieve the latter, tradition provides a stupendous hierarchy of hundreds of wives and concubines. It is as a minor concubine that the beautiful Tzu Hsi, known as Orchid as a girl, enters the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen. It is not a good time to enter the city. The Ch'ing Dynasty in 1852 has lost its vitality, and the court has become an insular, xenophobic place. A few short decades earlier, China lost the Opium Wars, and it has done little since to strengthen its defenses or improve diplomatic ties. Instead, the inner circle has turned further inward, naively confident that its troubles are past and the glory of China will keep the "barbarians" -- the outsiders -- at bay. Within the walls of the Forbidden City the consequences of a misstep are deadly. As one of hundreds of women vying for the attention of the Emperor, Orchid soon discovers that she must take matters into her own hands. After training herself in the art of pleasing a man, she bribes her way into the royal bedchamber and seduces the monarch. A grand love affair ensues; the Emperor is a troubled man, but their love is passionate and genuine. Orchid has the great good fortune to bear him a son. Elevated to the rank of Empress, she still must struggle to maintain her position and the right to raise her own child. With the death of the Emperor comes a palace coup that ultimately thrusts Orchid into power, although only as regent until her son's maturity. Now she must rule China as its walls tumble around her, and she alone seems capable of holding the country together. This is an epic story firmly in the mold of Anchee Min's Becoming Madame Mao. Like that best-selling historical novel, the heroine of Empress Orchid comes down to us with a diabolical reputation -- a woman who seized power through sexual seduction, murder, and endless intrigue. But reality tells a different story. Based on copious research, this is a vivid portrait of a flawed yet utterly compelling woman who survived in a male world, a woman whose main struggle was not to hold on topower but to her own humanity. Richly detailed and completely gripping, Empress Orchid is a novel of high drama and lyricism and the first volume of a trilogy about the life of one of the most important women in history.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
ISBN-10
0618068872
ISBN-13
9780618068876
eBay Product ID (ePID)
2361065
Product Key Features
Publication Year
2004
Topic
Historical
Book Title
Empress Orchid : a Novel
Language
English
Genre
Fiction
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.3in.
Item Length
9in.
Item Weight
21.5 Oz
Item Width
6in.
Additional Product Features
LCCN
2003-056891
Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
22
Reviews
While the historical research impresses, Min's prose brings immediacy to the period. (Critic's Choice), powerful and brilliantly conceived Booklist, ALA, Starred Review [an] absolutely addictive book, a marvel of perfectly executed narrative The Baltimore Sun An exotic tale filled with historical insight, richly transporting in its details, and compelling to the end. O, The Oprah Magazine fascinating reading The San Francisco Chronicle While the historical research impresses, Min's prose brings immediacy to the period. (Critic's Choice) People Magazine nervously riveting and oddly beautiful. The reader...can end up gasping for breath. The Star Tribune renders a beautiful description of a world where ritual is elaborately detailed The Denver Post keeps you riveted with heart-wrenching scenes of desperate failure and a sensuality that rises off its heated pages. Elle a stirring, exotic novel that is a treat for the senses and intellect alike. Los Angeles Times Readers who appreciate well-crafted fiction will know to applaud Min's talent and exceptional work. Orlando Sentinel, keeps you riveted with heart-wrenching scenes of desperate failure and a sensuality that rises off its heated pages.
Illustrated
Yes
Dewey Decimal
813.54
Lc Classification Number
Ps3563.I4614e47 2004
Number of Pages
352 Pages
Item description from the seller
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Seller feedback (11,461)
- s***s (1731)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent wrapping and speedy delivery. Exactly as described and in collectable condition. Very reasonably prices and shipping. Very pleased with my purchase. 5 star seller!
- -***n (119)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchasePERFECT ! Exactly as advertised. Great packaging. ARRIVED TWO DAYS EARLY! Positive + experience. Thank you !
- -***i (51)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseGreat condition, as described; excellent price, very well packaged, fast shipping, great communication!
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Most relevant reviews
- 01 Apr, 2024
Intriguing view into mid-1800’s Chinese culture
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-ownedSold by: second.sale
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