{"product_id":"empress-dowager-cixi","title":"Empress Dowager Cixi","description":"In 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.\r\n\r\nDrawing 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.","brand":"Jung Chang","offers":[{"title":"Penguin Random House \/ 2013 \/ A07","offer_id":55315870843221,"sku":"9780224087445","price":3.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0501\/4188\/8668\/files\/10751997-L.jpg?v=1791851344","url":"https:\/\/www.bookworld.ie\/products\/empress-dowager-cixi","provider":"Book World Ireland","version":"1.0","type":"link"}