The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and the Birth of Modern China

(Paperback)

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Description

THE LAST EMPRESS revolves around a fascinating, manipulative woman and her family who were largely responsible for dragging China into the modern world.

Soong May-ling, or Madame Chiang as she was known, is uniquely positioned at the heart of this story. As her husband came to represent the hopes of the West in the East, she acted as his adviser, English translator, secretary and most loyal champion, finding herself on the world stage with Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. A savvy politician, she remained a popular if controversial figure both at home and abroad.

Hannah Pakula brilliantly narrates the life of this extraordinary woman - how she charmed the United States out of billions of dollars while remaining dedicated to her China and how she managed to influence if not change the history of the twentieth century.

Reviews

This engrossing biography tells of her fight to thrive at the world's top tables. -- Boyd Tonkin * INDEPENDENT i NEWSPAPER *
With the ability to bring US congress to its feet, she makes extraordinary reading. * DAILY EXPRESS *
Hers is an epic story * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *
This well written and exciting book tells the unforgettable story of a woman who had a profound influence on 20th-century history. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

Author Bio

Hannah Pakula attended Wellesley College, the Sorbonne and Southern Methodist University. She is a book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times.