THE FORBIDDEN CITY (THE GREAT WITHIN)

This chronicle of the palace, a rich blend of history, anecdotal narrative, biographical portraits and illustrations, carries readers through 500 years of imperial China. Much of the material for this volume, produced in collaboration with a documentary film, was collected after unprecedented access to the historical archives in Beijing, making this a truly unique book. Short but informative essays deal among other things with the history and layout of the palace; the role of the emperor and the ceremony and symbolism associated with his office; the Jesuit fathers who infiltrated the system, valued for their scientific skills but not for their faith; and the private lives of the emperors, their consorts and concubines, and the hundreds of eunuchs and serving maids who kept the system running.Holdsworth, May is the author of 'THE FORBIDDEN CITY (THE GREAT WITHIN)' with ISBN 9787800474729 and ISBN 7800474720.