Imperial Woman
The Story of the Last Empress of China
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Narrated by:
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Kirsten Potter
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By:
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Pearl S. Buck
About this listen
The story of Tzu Hsi is the story of the last empress in China. In this audiobook, Pearl S. Buck recreates the life of one of the most intriguing rulers during a time of intense turbulence.
Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. According to custom, she moved to the Forbidden City at the age of 17 to become one of hundreds of concubines. But her singular beauty and powers of manipulation quickly moved her into the position of Second Consort. Tzu Hsi was feared and hated by many in the court, but adored by the people. The Empress’s rise to power (even during her husband’s life) parallels the story of China’s transition from the ancient to the modern way.
Pearl S. Buck’s knowledge of and fascination with the empress’s life are contagious. She reveals the essence of this self-involved and infamous last empress, at the same time she takes the listener through China’s struggle for freedom and democracy.
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The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.
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The Kushiel series in order
- By Glen Gaines on 10-27-09
By: Jacqueline Carey
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The Queen’s Vow
- A Novel of Isabella of Castile
- By: C. W. Gortner
- Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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“No one believed I was destined for greatness.” So begins Isabella’s story, in this evocative, vividly imagined novel about one of history’s most famous and controversial queens - the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the Inquisition, and the visionary who sent Columbus to discover a new world. Acclaimed author C. W. Gortner envisages the turbulent early years of a woman whose mythic rise to power would go on to transform a monarchy, a nation, and the world.
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Excellent historical fiction!
- By nursebettyknitting on 07-30-12
By: C. W. Gortner
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Ben-Hur
- A Tale of the Christ
- By: Lew Wallace
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 23 hrs and 12 mins
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A classic of faith, fortitude, and inspiration, this faithful New Testament tale combines the events of the life of Jesus with grand historical spectacle in the exciting story of Judah of the House of Hur, a man who finds extraordinary redemption for himself and his family. Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the first century. His old friend, Messala, arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions.
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Not Like the Movie
- By Paul Z. on 01-31-12
By: Lew Wallace
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Hand of Isis
- By: Jo Graham
- Narrated by: Gigi Shane
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
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Charmian is handmaiden to Cleopatra. She is also an oracle, gifted with ancient memories that may hold the key to preserving Egypt. Through blood and fire, war and peace, love and death, she will face a desperate struggle that will remake the future of the world.
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Reader does not know how to pronounce words
- By Gail N. on 07-31-19
By: Jo Graham
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Fire from Heaven
- A Novel of Alexander the Great
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Roger May
- Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins
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Alexander's beauty, strength and defiance were apparent from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the makings of a king. His mother, Olympias, and his father, King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their son's loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the cradle. His love for the youth Hephaistion taught him trust, while Aristotle's tutoring provoked his mind and Homer's Iliad fuelled his aspirations.
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Renewed Pleasure
- By James on 01-28-15
By: Mary Renault
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The Dark Angel
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Ancient Constantinople, the glorious capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1,000 years, and the jewel of Christendom, is the setting for this incredible historical novel. No other city in the world could compare with it in grandeur, splendor, and wealth. And when it fell to the Turks in 1453, it must have seemed like the end of the world to Christians. Famed author Mika Waltari takes us into the last months of this dying city as revealed in the diary of John Angelos, a strange man hopelessly in love with the daughter of an eminent Byzantine official.
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Great until the end
- By Barton on 07-12-19
By: Mika Waltari
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The Sekhmet Bed
- The She-King, #1
- By: L.M. Ironside
- Narrated by: Amanda C. Miller
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
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The second daughter of the Pharaoh, Ahmose has always dreamed of a quiet life as a priestess, serving Egypt's gods, ministering to the people of the Two Lands. But when the Pharaoh dies without an heir, she is given instead as Great Royal Wife to the new king - a soldier of common birth. For Ahmose is god-chosen, gifted with the ability to read dreams, and it is her connection to the gods which ensures the new Pharaoh his right to rule.
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Never listened to a story about Egypt before...
- By E. M. on 12-14-13
By: L.M. Ironside
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Muhammad: A Story of the Last Prophet
- By: Deepak Chopra MD
- Narrated by: Deepak Chopra
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
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Born into the factious world of war-torn Arabia, Muhammad's life is a gripping and inspiring story of one man's tireless fight for unity and peace. In a world where greed and injustice ruled, Muhammad created change by affecting hearts and minds. Just as the story of Jesus embodies the message of Christianity, Muhammad's life reveals the core of Islam. Deepak Chopra shares the life of Muhammad as never before, putting his teachings in a new light.
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Poorly written and poorly narrated
- By Shahrad Milanfar on 10-21-10
By: Deepak Chopra MD
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The Nine Cloud Dream
- By: Kim Man-jung, Heinz Insu Fenkl - translator
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
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Often considered the highest achievement in Korean fiction, The Nine Cloud Dream poses the question: Will the life we dream of truly make us happy? Written in 17th-century Korea, this classic novel's wondrous story begins when a young monk living on a sacred Lotus Peak in China succumbs to the temptation of eight fairy maidens. For doubting his master's Buddhist teachings, the monk is forced to endure a strange punishment: reincarnation as the most ideal of men.
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Nine Stars
- By MJ Harkins on 06-28-21
By: Kim Man-jung, and others
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The thrilling new novel from number-one New York Times best-selling author Lisa See explores the lives of a Chinese mother and her daughter who has been abandoned and adopted by an American couple.
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According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.
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Another Beautiful Novel from Lisa See!
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What listeners say about Imperial Woman
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Theresa
- 05-19-13
History made interesting
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, interesting peroid in Chinese history, fasinating culture and people.
Any additional comments?
Went out and rented "The Last Emperor" just to see the clothing described in the book.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Kate
- 07-16-14
Wonderful journey!
I read most of Pearl S. Bucks' books in my youth. She was one of my favorite writers back then. I feel that reading her work deepened me and gave me so much to think about at the time that I may not have otherwise.
This was one of her books that I had not read before and I am so glad to have discovered it now in my older years. The woman definitely had an amazing talent for bringing the reader into another interestingly different time and place in an authentic manner.
The narrator was wonderful and I will be searching out her other performances.
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6 people found this helpful
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- P. Speer
- 07-08-24
Riveting and Fascinating
This is the 2nd time in a couple of years that I’ve listened to this audio book. Pearl Buck’s descriptions and understanding of Chinese culture is so incredibly interesting to me. In many ways, it was so much more refined, intricate and complicated, compared to western culture.
I feel as though I’ve just been on an incredible journey to a China that no longer exists, and I’ve left dear friends behind.
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- Nanfit
- 06-18-15
Spectacular in every way!
Pearl Bucks grand , epic novel, the extraordinary and impeccable reader and the production all combined to a remarkable audible experience! If there was an Oscar for readers this reader ought win! Thank you Audible for a truly memorable experience.
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3 people found this helpful
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- gabriel
- 02-04-17
Masterpiece
Masterfully written and beautifully narrated. Details paint an exquisite picture & love story has transcending depth.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Marie G.
- 04-20-22
Do NOT Miss This Epic Story!
This was an AMAZING story! So good that I lost many hours of sleep trying to force myself to stay awake until 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning, knowing full well I had to be up at 6:30 AM!
I discovered author Pearl S. Buck at the age of 13 and she instantly became my favorite writer. I haven’t read her work in many years. This book immediately reminded me of WHY I love her work so much!
I loved the first book about the only female ruler of China, written by Anchee Min, but it only went to a certain point in the history of the female Empress — to about age 30. The story was so compelling that I really wanted to know what happened beyond that! I read the reviews for the rest of the Empress, and the book by Pearl S. Buck got rave reviews.
I was NOT DISAPPOINTED! This book gives a comprehensive history of China and its rulers in such a way that it never feels like a history lesson. I am not sure how much of the history is accurate or how much liberty was taken for the sake of the story, but I could not put it down! I vacuumed with the book in one hand, folded laundry with the book propped up next to me, had it on anytime I was in the car and even had it going in my ear through Bluetooth at work! At night, I listened fixing dinner and washing dishes. Then, once in bed, I stayed awake as long as I possibly could to hear more about this amazing ruler!
Given the climate of the times in which she ruled, her story was even more compelling to me. It was a very long story, but SO GOOD, that I plan to immediately listen to it again!
It’s the BEST one credit I’ve ever spent; and although I haven’t done the book justice in my review, I hope you’ll give the book a try. The narrator did an incredible job!
Be sure to read the book, Empress Orchid by Anchee Min first to understand the early life of the Empress. You will learn about her life as a very young girl growing up in the poorest area of China, almost illiterate, her being chosen as a royal concubine and her rise from there. It will give you a much better of understanding of why her rise to the only female Empress with the ultimate power over an entire country is so impressive.
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- Lilly Alegria
- 09-30-22
Well read
Interesting story of a true Asian era. But not boring at all. Reader has a great voice.
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- Verna
- 07-20-22
And so my mom was right!
My mother spoke of 2 of her favorite books and this was one of them. Now it is one of mine. So well written, as expected from this author, and full of historical intrigue.
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- hilla benpazi
- 04-11-18
recomended before visiting china
heard the story prior to my visit to China was very informative and moving
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- alison
- 05-12-15
Beautiful - I loved it !!
I was so drawn in to the story and life within the Imperial Palace that I was quite at a loss when the book finished. I loved my daily visits to the Empress. Buck's beautiful descriptions of the robes, palace, gardens and even the food painted such vivid pictures it was almost like being there. It may not be historically acurate, but it gave a pretty good indication of what life was like then and afterall if you want factual history you can always read a text book.
I loved everything about this book, the way it was written, the characters and the story itself. Kirsten Potter's excellent narration only helped to increase my enjoyment of the book.
This was my second Pearl S. Buck book, my first being Peony, and I was not disappointed. I look forward to discovering more of her books.
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9 people found this helpful