{"product_id":"9780307271600","title":"Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Notable Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn NPR Best Book of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1852, at age sixteen, Cixi was chosen as one of Emperor Xianfeng’s numerous concubines. When he died in 1861, their five-year-old son succeeded to the throne. Cixi at once launched a coup against her son’s regents and placed herself as the true source of power—governing through a silk screen that separated her from her male officials.\u003cbr\u003e        Drawing on newly available sources, Jung Chang comprehensively overturns Cixi’s reputation as a conservative despot. Cixi’s extraordinary reign saw the birth of modern China. Under her, the ancient country attained industries, railways, electricity, and a military with up-to-date weaponry. She abolished foot-binding, inaugurated women’s liberation, and embarked on a path to introduce voting rights. Packed with drama, this groundbreaking biography powerfully reforms our view of a crucial period in China’s—and the world’s—history. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47024063774960,"sku":"9780307271600","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780307271600_p0.jpg?v=1763671511","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780307271600","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}