Der Ling

Princess Der Ling's memoir, Two Years in the Forbidden City, details her time as the Empress Dowager Cixi's First Lady-in-Waiting and interpreter for her when she hosted foreign visitors. The 1911 revolution that toppled the Manchu or Qing empire offers fascinating insights into daily life at the Manchu court and the personality of the Empress. Explore the realm of China's most dreaded Empress. The first eyewitness account of the Imperial Court to be written by a Chinese aristocracy for Western readers was this authentic narrative. It offers a close-up perspective of the infamous Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi during her final years of rule. "Two Years in the Forbidden City" is a fascinating journey into the grandeur and intrigue of China's last dynasty, enhanced with stunning visuals and extra historical annotations. Princess Der Ling had a unique viewpoint on the revered Empress because she was a close companion to one of the most exceptional women to rule China. With Princess Der Ling's narration and her astounding observations about not just the Empress but also living in one of the most sedate and enigmatic cities of its period, the book about the reign of Empress Dowager takes on a new life.

For two years, Princess Der Ling was the favorite lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager Cixi in the imperial palace in Beijing. This book provides a unique and surprisingly intimate portrait of the Dragon Lady, who ruled China for 47 years, and brought the country to the brink of destruction. Der Ling refers to the larger political context on many occasions. But the best parts of the book are the small details. What emerges is an intimate portrait of the life and personality of the Empress Dowager, and a sense of the inner workings of the highly secretive world of the imperial palace.