This novel transports the reader back to the savagery and the passion, to the opulence and sensuality, and to the great adventure of the last days of a dying dynasty.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
mediocre at best,
This review is from: Manchu (Hardcover)
For what it is, _Manchu_ does an ok job. But it has a ton of historical inaccuracies and even some internal inconsistencies (like One-Eyed Li being called One Eyed _before_ he loses his eye in besieging Kaifeng!). It's pure fluff and enjoyable in a cheesy sort of way. But _Shogun_ it ain't. And I found the representations of the three women in the book extremely shallow and one-dimensional, and Francis' relations to them uproariously funny in their insubstantiality. Do yourself a favor and search out some more substantial fare about Ming/Qing China if you have the chance--the real story is every whit as gripping as this fictional account, and far more rewarding. Try _The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci_ for more on the Jesuits, or any other book by Jonathan Spence for that matter--he's first rate.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the book,
By barbara bradshaw (San Francisco, california) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Manchu (Mass Market Paperback)
I realy enjoyed this book. It had a lot of Chinese history. I would read part of the book and check out the history on the internet. I really got into it. It was interesting while I was reading the book the Porcheries gave back Machu back to the Chinese. I would recoment this book for anyone who is into Chinese history. I remember when the Chinese ask all the missionaries to leave there country. I didn't realize how long missionaries were in China.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pure fluff, to quote another reviewer,
By readfreak_downunder (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Manchu (Hardcover)
Follows the tired formula of plonking an English protagonist at the centre of great events in an 'oriental' society, in this case China during the last years of the Ming dynasty (early 1600's). Cycles through old stereotypes of Eastern eroticism, cruelty and deviousness. Unsurprisingly the historicity and characters are shallow and don't approach Clavell's 'Shogun', although it's better than Alan Savage's 'Eight Banners' (also set in China). On balance, passable entertainment for a rainy day. Just remember you're reading fiction and not history.
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