Pdf empress book by shan sa free download 336 pages. Heavenlight, as she is referred to in the novel, was the first and only woman to achieve the regal title of empress in chinas entire 5,000 year history. In 2001 her novel the girl who played go won the goncourt prize. Her second novel to appear in english translation is the empress 2006. Empress is the wombtotomb story of a seventh century chinese woman, heavenlight, who becomes the most powerful woman in the land. Alexander and alestria is the imaginative tale of the dramatic love affair between alexander the great and alestria, queen of the amazons, when both are at the height of their powers. Shan sa was born in beijing and had her first poems, essays, and stories published at the age of eight. Motleys book is a little long and perhaps romantically biased, and i was really interested to see what shan sa would do with the topic. This book is very different from empress, which was more historical fiction. You know, these two books really highlight the versatility of shan sa. In this book i found myself convinced i was in the presence of greatness, a person i want to call great, and to add to that uncommon experience, she s. Empress by shan sa wu zetian, or heavenlight, was the only female emperor of china. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are.
She was the only woman who ever officially ruled china on her own. In empress, shan sa recreates the story of empress wu ze tian. Empress wu, one of chinas most controversial figures, was its first and only female emperor, who emerged in. It won the goncourt des lyceens prize in 2001 and earned critical acclaim worldwide. Alan cheuse selects shan sa s novel in his annual roundup of.
Shan sa, quote from empress she died a few days later, and her death buried once and for all the intrigues between the precious wife, the gracious wife, and all the imperial favorites. The great man theory of history is out of fashion, and i dont know how often historical fiction, either, sets out to portray greatness whatever that is in the political sphere. Shan sa is a french author born in beijing in 1972. Unfortunately, the text is so disorganized that i had difficulty following the story at allthis despite the fact that i know empress. The author of empress, she is also a celebrated artist who has had prominent exhibitions in paris and new york. A simple girl from an inauspicious family, the humble wu clan, rises to throne of empress in the seventhcentury tang dynasty in shan sa s chronicle of the rise to power of the empress. A spellbinding historical novel by the author of the girl who played go chronicles the life and times of chinas only female emperor, empress wu, who rose from a humble clan and position of concubine to. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. See all books authored by shan sa, including empress, and the girl who played go, and more on thriftbooks. Such is the voice of shan sa s unforgettable heroine in her latest literary masterpiece, empress. Empress npr coverage of empress by shan sa, sa shan, and adriana hunter. The first edition of this novel was published in 2003, and was written by shan sa.
In all honesty, i cannot tell just how much of my entertainment with this guide is as a result of miss sa s talent as a great author, and just how most of that is as a result of the appeal of her source supplies. Empress this book is part pageant, part politics as ballet, all in all a lavish portrayal of life in early civilized china. Empress shan sa regan books hardcover 336 pages may 2006. The girl who played go was the first of her novels to be published outside of france. Empress shan sa translated by adriana hunter the sharp wind and the swift dagger the only blessings from my ancestors shan sa contents epigraph one endless moons, an opaque universe, thunder.
Shan sa, the author of the prizewinning the girl who played go, has reached much further back in time for her latest effort, empress, a fictional biography of empress shengshen, chinas only. The book was published in multiple languages including english language, consists of 336 pages and is available in hardcover format. Writing with epic assurance, poetry, and vivid historic detail, shan sa plumbs the psychological and philosophical depths of what it means to be a striving mortal in a tumultuous, powerhungry world. Heavenlight, as she is referred to in the novel, was the first and only woman to achieve the regal title of empress in chinas. Writing with epic assurance, poetry, and vivid historic detail, shan sa. Critics praise it has the sweep of war and the intimacy of a love story. The girl who played go was the first of her novels to be published outside france, and won the prix goncourt des lyceens a prize voted by secondary school students. A ravishing historical novel of one of chinas most controversial historical figures. Empress 2006 read online free book by shan sa in epub,txt. About the author shan sa was born in beijing and had her first poems, essays, and stories published at the age of eight. The book was published in multiple languages including english.