Customer Reviews

Twilight in The Forbidden City (Illustrated and revised 4th Edition)

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Twilight in the Forbidden City is considered by The University of Pittsburgh to be out of date due to the use by R.F.J. of the Yale pronounciation of the Chinese language. However, despite that fact, the author manages to capture some of the most historicaly decisive events in Chinese history due to his close relationship with the Emperor, Pu-Yi. He also manages to reflect on some of the events prior to becoming tutor to the Emperor, including the Boxer Rebellion and the downfall of the Empress Tzu-Hsi, that contributed to the twilight in the Fobidden City. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a student of East Asian studies.

Johnston's book is a fascinating study of the end of imperialism in China, but also, as an object of study itself, of the agencies of colonialism. I recommend the book on that basis as much as on the value of Johnston's firsthand account of the last days of the Manchu emperors. "Enjoy with..." as the foodies say, James Morris' lively "Pax Brittanica" trilogy, for example, or letters/memoirs of Gertrude Bell and TE Lawrence. To my mind all of these give a fascinating insight into the good-hearted, brilliant-minded but often disastrously wrong-headed players in colonialism. It's clear in Johnston's book that he went into his job as imperial tutor with an agenda: within days of starting he's outlined a plan to radically disrupt the status quo. All with best intentions, true integrity, and a thorough knowledge of the country and culture. There's a lot for us to learn here.

FWIW, I consider myself a history "dabbler" and these books keep my limited attention,intellect and curiosity fully engaged, so don't be put off by worrying that they're too like the classes we all slept through...

I found the book to be on the dry side and a bit difficult to read as histories often are. What made this book really unusual and worth the effort is that it is written in English by someone who knew and was intimate with the last emperor. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the history of China.

Tis is a book written by the tutor of Pu Yi, last emperor of the Manchu dynasty in China. It contains a wealth of information concerning life in the forbidden city in the last years of the dynasty. The movie, 'the Last Emperor,"shows Johnston as Pu Yi's tutor and is also excellent in its portrayal of events in the early years of the 20th century as seen from the forbidden city.The child emperor's first question of Johnston illustrates the cultural gap between them: "Where are your ancestors buried?" and the response -- "In Scotland, your majesty."

For those with an interest in Asian history, this is an excellent book regarding the days and years of the last Emperor of China. A great read.

Love this book, since being young I have borrowed this book from interlibrary loans, now I have my own copy. Pictures and diagrams are not bad from the copied original. Maybe one day I can own a 1st printing, but for now I am glad to have a copy on my own book shelve.

I live in China and have seen almost all the places mentioned in this book. At least the ones that survived the time. The material is great, if biased towards the Imperial regime, but that is expected. However, the editting is awful. The book looks and fels cheap, chapters are not clearly marked,... It looks like someone just printed it and then put it in abinder. Great disservice to teh book and what it has to offer.

Mr. Johnson's work romanticizes the truth behind the opulence that existed within the Forbidden City. The vislual feast presented in the book differed much from what was provided in the film, but, both touched upon the essence of what the author suggested; there was granduer, there was, glitter, and, there was truth in what the author saw. The traumatic changes in the social order of the day happened over years, not minutes. The book did little to present what was happening outside of the palace walls, and the film did even less. The film did focus on the attrocities being committed upon the Chinese people by the invading Japanese during the war, but, it did not touch upon those committed by the foreign influences, and, the ruling class itself. Maybe it was a good thing that this truth was not presented in the film, because,the film would then have to be called, "The Saga of the Twilight in the Forbidden City." Sometimes its better if you just read and understand the book in, and, of itself, then attempt to understand the historical truth being presented by any ONE the book. Go figure!