Empress Orchid

This is a book that was passed to me by my sister. I read it over the half term break. It is the story of Orchid, a daughter of a Bannerman, and a member of the Manchu ruling class. The book follows her story; how she becomes a concubine and fourth wife of the Chinese emperor, and the mother of the future emperor. The book gives some insights into the inside of the Forbidden City and looks at how Orchid challenged the status quo and role of women in court. A good read, but wouldn't read it again, so it has been consigned to the charity shop pile, but only after I read the next one...