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The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City
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Expected 17 Nov 26New York Times bestselling author Paul French tells the extraordinary story of the last Emperor of China and the final two years during which he and his court occupied Peking’s secretive Forbidden City.
A king without a crown, a ruler without a people, a monarch without a realm.
In the early 1920s, the former-Emperor of China, Puyi and his Empress, Wanrong, were sequestered inside Peking’s ancient Forbidden City. Surrounded by scheming courtiers, fawning servants, and corrupt eunuchs, Puyi did not know from one day to the next whether he would experience restoration, expulsion, or assassination.
The Last Emperor of China delves into the final years of the Manchu Dynasty, beginning with China’s last royal wedding. Contrary to established belief, this was not a loveless marriage between an impotent Emperor and a neglected Empress. Paul French calls upon previously unpublished letters from the Emperor’s tutor and the diary of Wanrong’s English teacher, her closest companion. These sources shed an entirely new light on the final days of China’s last dynasty before the imperial court’s brutal expulsion, revealing a loving relationship and an Emperor attempting to assert control of the Forbidden City.
More than just the tale of the royal couple, The Last Emperor of China is also the story of the ancient citadel itself—the Forbidden City. It was a haven prohibited to all except the imperial family and their court. It survived looting, conflagration, and bombardment. A redoubt of the old dynasty, the Forbidden City was perhaps the greatest symbol of constancy and power in China—as it remains today.
A king without a crown, a ruler without a people, a monarch without a realm.
In the early 1920s, the former-Emperor of China, Puyi and his Empress, Wanrong, were sequestered inside Peking’s ancient Forbidden City. Surrounded by scheming courtiers, fawning servants, and corrupt eunuchs, Puyi did not know from one day to the next whether he would experience restoration, expulsion, or assassination.
The Last Emperor of China delves into the final years of the Manchu Dynasty, beginning with China’s last royal wedding. Contrary to established belief, this was not a loveless marriage between an impotent Emperor and a neglected Empress. Paul French calls upon previously unpublished letters from the Emperor’s tutor and the diary of Wanrong’s English teacher, her closest companion. These sources shed an entirely new light on the final days of China’s last dynasty before the imperial court’s brutal expulsion, revealing a loving relationship and an Emperor attempting to assert control of the Forbidden City.
More than just the tale of the royal couple, The Last Emperor of China is also the story of the ancient citadel itself—the Forbidden City. It was a haven prohibited to all except the imperial family and their court. It survived looting, conflagration, and bombardment. A redoubt of the old dynasty, the Forbidden City was perhaps the greatest symbol of constancy and power in China—as it remains today.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 27, 2026
About the author
Paul French
56 books176 followersPAUL FRENCH was born in London and lived and worked in Shanghai for many years. His book Midnight in Pekingwas a New York Times bestseller and a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. He received the Mystery Writers’ of America Edgar award for Best Fact Crime and a Crime Writers’ Association (UK) Dagger award for non-fiction. His book City of Devils: A Shanghai Noir received much praise with The Economist writing, ‘…in Mr French the city has its champion storyteller.’ Both Midnight in Peking and City of Devils are currently in development for film.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City by Paul French
I can’t quite call myself a history buff—maybe an aspiring history buff—but I love finding pockets of history that I know almost nothing about. And, like many Americans my age, the history I learned in school was overwhelmingly focused on the United States and Europe. So this fascinating little window into early 20th-century China felt almost entirely new to me.
In 1912, after centuries of imperial rule, China became a republic. But an empire doesn’t simply disappear overnight.
There were still remnants of the old imperial world—including Puyi, the last emperor of China, who had been raised from childhood with the expectation that he would rule. No one preparing him for that role imagined that instead of becoming the next emperor of China, he would become its last.
Paul French focuses much of this book on Puyi and his empress, Wanrong, and their strange, sheltered existence inside Beijing’s Forbidden City after the fall of the Qing dynasty. They were living inside a sort of bubble: the empire was gone, yet many of its rituals remained. They still had servants, attendants, elaborate ceremonies, and all the pomp and circumstance of royalty while, just outside the walls, China was attempting to become something entirely different.
The book begins around Puyi and Wanrong’s arranged marriage, and I appreciated French’s warning against viewing their relationship through a Western, happily-ever-after lens. For people of their position, marriage was deeply connected to politics, family, status, and economics. Yet Puyi and Wanrong did form a partnership—and knowing what eventually happens to both of them gives their early years together an especially melancholy quality.
One of the most interesting elements is the glimpse French gives us into everyday life inside the Forbidden City during this twilight period. There are attendants holding umbrellas, enormous staffs maintaining imperial traditions, political maneuvering, and even Western tutors whose own romantic relationship becomes an unexpected subplot. Their correspondence also provides French with an unusual window into this extraordinarily secretive world.
What fascinated me most, though, was the larger question underneath the story: What actually happens to the people left behind when a government—and an entire way of life—is overthrown?
Puyi and the Forbidden City almost become echoes of the old regime. The republic exists, but so does this former emperor who was raised to believe that ruling China was his destiny. Eventually Puyi’s story becomes entangled with Japan, leading to decisions and alliances that would have enormous consequences. At times, it feels as though virtually no one—not the Chinese, not the Japanese, and certainly not Puyi himself—quite knows what to do with this living remnant of a vanished dynasty.
I knew the broadest outline of China’s transition away from imperial rule, but I had never really thought about the messy human aftermath of it. A dynasty can officially end on a particular date, but history doesn’t tie everything up neatly when the calendar changes.
The Last Emperor of China is an intriguing look at that strange twilight: a vanished empire, a new republic, and the people still living inside the echo of what came before.
I’m very grateful to St. Martin’s Press for sending me a free advanced reading copy. The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City publishes August 27, 2026.
I can’t quite call myself a history buff—maybe an aspiring history buff—but I love finding pockets of history that I know almost nothing about. And, like many Americans my age, the history I learned in school was overwhelmingly focused on the United States and Europe. So this fascinating little window into early 20th-century China felt almost entirely new to me.
In 1912, after centuries of imperial rule, China became a republic. But an empire doesn’t simply disappear overnight.
There were still remnants of the old imperial world—including Puyi, the last emperor of China, who had been raised from childhood with the expectation that he would rule. No one preparing him for that role imagined that instead of becoming the next emperor of China, he would become its last.
Paul French focuses much of this book on Puyi and his empress, Wanrong, and their strange, sheltered existence inside Beijing’s Forbidden City after the fall of the Qing dynasty. They were living inside a sort of bubble: the empire was gone, yet many of its rituals remained. They still had servants, attendants, elaborate ceremonies, and all the pomp and circumstance of royalty while, just outside the walls, China was attempting to become something entirely different.
The book begins around Puyi and Wanrong’s arranged marriage, and I appreciated French’s warning against viewing their relationship through a Western, happily-ever-after lens. For people of their position, marriage was deeply connected to politics, family, status, and economics. Yet Puyi and Wanrong did form a partnership—and knowing what eventually happens to both of them gives their early years together an especially melancholy quality.
One of the most interesting elements is the glimpse French gives us into everyday life inside the Forbidden City during this twilight period. There are attendants holding umbrellas, enormous staffs maintaining imperial traditions, political maneuvering, and even Western tutors whose own romantic relationship becomes an unexpected subplot. Their correspondence also provides French with an unusual window into this extraordinarily secretive world.
What fascinated me most, though, was the larger question underneath the story: What actually happens to the people left behind when a government—and an entire way of life—is overthrown?
Puyi and the Forbidden City almost become echoes of the old regime. The republic exists, but so does this former emperor who was raised to believe that ruling China was his destiny. Eventually Puyi’s story becomes entangled with Japan, leading to decisions and alliances that would have enormous consequences. At times, it feels as though virtually no one—not the Chinese, not the Japanese, and certainly not Puyi himself—quite knows what to do with this living remnant of a vanished dynasty.
I knew the broadest outline of China’s transition away from imperial rule, but I had never really thought about the messy human aftermath of it. A dynasty can officially end on a particular date, but history doesn’t tie everything up neatly when the calendar changes.
The Last Emperor of China is an intriguing look at that strange twilight: a vanished empire, a new republic, and the people still living inside the echo of what came before.
I’m very grateful to St. Martin’s Press for sending me a free advanced reading copy. The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City publishes August 27, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I want to start by saying that I found this book incredibly interesting. French's use of primary research material painted a clear and interesting picture of both the Emperor and Empress, while highlighting their relationships with their western tutors. However, I really struggled with this book overall because there appeared to be no structure to the text at all. We switch between learning about the Emperor Puyi, the Empress Wanrong, and their respective tutors, Reginald Fleming Johnston and Isabel Ingram, respectively. Due to this shifting focus, time also did not appear linear throughout the text, and someone who was dead te previous chapter was alive again in the next. I would have much preferred if French had structured the book in two parts, following the Emperor and Johnston, and then one following the Empress and Ingram. It might have made the book a little more cohesive.
Overall, the exploitation of the relationship between Emperor Puyi and the Empress Wanrong, along with their interpersonal relationships with Wenxiu, Consort to Emperor Puyi the most fascinating part of the book. The complicated dynamics of their relationship are due to court politics and their own personal idiosyncrasies, added for a layered exploration of each as individuals.
I also found the implications of colonialistic ideas on the Emperor and Empress to be particularly interesting, but slightly unexplored in the text. French notes that it was unusual for tutors of the Imperial couple to be from Western Countries, but beyond personal preferences and choices, the implications of such a relationship felt a little underexplored.
This is a very interesting book, and I would recommend it to history lovers generally and those interested in royal history specifically. However, go into it viewing the chapters as distinct essays about a period of time rather than a book with a linear story, and you will have a much better experience.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, War
Overall, the exploitation of the relationship between Emperor Puyi and the Empress Wanrong, along with their interpersonal relationships with Wenxiu, Consort to Emperor Puyi the most fascinating part of the book. The complicated dynamics of their relationship are due to court politics and their own personal idiosyncrasies, added for a layered exploration of each as individuals.
I also found the implications of colonialistic ideas on the Emperor and Empress to be particularly interesting, but slightly unexplored in the text. French notes that it was unusual for tutors of the Imperial couple to be from Western Countries, but beyond personal preferences and choices, the implications of such a relationship felt a little underexplored.
This is a very interesting book, and I would recommend it to history lovers generally and those interested in royal history specifically. However, go into it viewing the chapters as distinct essays about a period of time rather than a book with a linear story, and you will have a much better experience.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, War
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Last year I read Paul French’s Her Lotus Year: China, the Roaring Twenties, and the Making of Wallis Simpson and was impressed by his research that dredged up new information which altered my perception of Simpson. I gladly picked up The Last Emperor of China, confident I was in good hands.
French tells the story of a child swept away to the Forbidden Palace to be Emperor–of nothing. The revolution establishing the Republic of China had left him an anachronism, alive only because it wouldn’t look good to assassinate a six-year-old. The severely myopic, lonely Puyi lived in luxury, waited on by eunuchs. He was married off at sixteen to an appropriate empress and given his number one consort. The golden facade of the Forbidden Citymasked the constrained life of the emperor.
The Forbidden City was essentially a grand theatrical stage set rather than any sort of practical home. from The Last Emperor of China by Paul French
The ancient complex was beautiful, with untold rooms filled with generations of rich tribute that had never been inventoried, but the rooms were cold. The royal teens enjoyed tennis, photography, listening to jazz records. Puyi was quite the dandy and dreamed of going to university. But he was essentially in a golden cage.
Puyi and his empress had British teachers of English who became their friends, mentors, and advisors.
It was hard to accept that just over a hundred years ago parents were desexing their sons hoping they could be a government servant! In 1923, Puyi accused the eunuchs of starting a devastating fire. He expelled them from the Forbidden City, leaving 1,500 suddenly destitute, It left the City without the workers who kept it in repair and going.
The boy who never asked to be emperor did not have a happy ending. Puyi wanted to escape to England, but was refused sanctuary. Instead, Japan set him up as emperor in Manchucko. He was eventually arrested by the Red Army, re-educated, and ended up a common worker in the Peking Botanical Gardens. His empress became an addict; they divorced; and she was also arrested.
A wonderful history of the last days of an ancient culture, and the story of a man who had no real agency over his life.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.
French tells the story of a child swept away to the Forbidden Palace to be Emperor–of nothing. The revolution establishing the Republic of China had left him an anachronism, alive only because it wouldn’t look good to assassinate a six-year-old. The severely myopic, lonely Puyi lived in luxury, waited on by eunuchs. He was married off at sixteen to an appropriate empress and given his number one consort. The golden facade of the Forbidden Citymasked the constrained life of the emperor.
The Forbidden City was essentially a grand theatrical stage set rather than any sort of practical home. from The Last Emperor of China by Paul French
The ancient complex was beautiful, with untold rooms filled with generations of rich tribute that had never been inventoried, but the rooms were cold. The royal teens enjoyed tennis, photography, listening to jazz records. Puyi was quite the dandy and dreamed of going to university. But he was essentially in a golden cage.
Puyi and his empress had British teachers of English who became their friends, mentors, and advisors.
It was hard to accept that just over a hundred years ago parents were desexing their sons hoping they could be a government servant! In 1923, Puyi accused the eunuchs of starting a devastating fire. He expelled them from the Forbidden City, leaving 1,500 suddenly destitute, It left the City without the workers who kept it in repair and going.
The boy who never asked to be emperor did not have a happy ending. Puyi wanted to escape to England, but was refused sanctuary. Instead, Japan set him up as emperor in Manchucko. He was eventually arrested by the Red Army, re-educated, and ended up a common worker in the Peking Botanical Gardens. His empress became an addict; they divorced; and she was also arrested.
A wonderful history of the last days of an ancient culture, and the story of a man who had no real agency over his life.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In this biography of the last emperor of China, Paul French delves into the last years of the Manchu Dynasty and the reign of Emperor Puyi and Empress Wanrong through unpublished letters and diaries that shed new light on their marriage and lives before the imperial family fell from favor. Exploring the royal couple and the Forbidden City in this complicated political period, the book expands on the instability of the 1920s and the dangers the imperial court presented to the last emperor and empress. Unique and informative, the book is well-written and packed with historical details readers will really appreciate. The historical documents and research are incredible and offer really interesting elements into this tumultuous period of history. French’s analysis and selected quotes do a great job emphasizing the role of the court and the Forbidden City in everything that happened, while the unpublished documents bring new sides of the imperial couple to light. A fascinating and contemplative new release from Paul French, this book about the last imperial couple and the fall of Imperial China is a brilliant addition to the current historiography with its use of new documents and insights into Emperor Puyi and Empress Wanrong’s final days in power.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance ARC in exchange for a fair review.
Every weekend my daughter sends me the history quiz from the New York Times so we can enjoy learning about history and share our results with each other. I have noticed that I do well with European history but know little about the history of the rest of the world.
With this in mind, when I was sent an invitation from the publisher to read "The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City", I eagerly accepted. This book concentrates on the Emperor, his wife Wanrong and the tutors who taught them English. I found the reading interesting. I learned quite a bit about the Forbidden City and it's ancient customs. I found Wanrong's story particularly tragic.
Puyi's (the last emperor) tutor Reginald Johnston was given quite a bit of attention. Although I understand that he played a key role in Puyi's life, I was not interested in his infatuation with Wanrong's American tutor or his various houses. These parts of the book lagged for me.
I definitely am interested in reading more books about pre-communist China.
Every weekend my daughter sends me the history quiz from the New York Times so we can enjoy learning about history and share our results with each other. I have noticed that I do well with European history but know little about the history of the rest of the world.
With this in mind, when I was sent an invitation from the publisher to read "The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City", I eagerly accepted. This book concentrates on the Emperor, his wife Wanrong and the tutors who taught them English. I found the reading interesting. I learned quite a bit about the Forbidden City and it's ancient customs. I found Wanrong's story particularly tragic.
Puyi's (the last emperor) tutor Reginald Johnston was given quite a bit of attention. Although I understand that he played a key role in Puyi's life, I was not interested in his infatuation with Wanrong's American tutor or his various houses. These parts of the book lagged for me.
I definitely am interested in reading more books about pre-communist China.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Remarkable
The Last Emperor is densely packed with meticulous research framed around the turbulent political and social miasma surrounding Emperor Puyi’s ascension to the throne as well as his marriages and relationships to Empress Wanrong and second consort Wenxiu.
As I said, this is a meticulously researched book, but I found the presentation of that research to be tangential and disorganized at times. Personally, I think I would have benefited from having a basic knowledge of this time period before going into this book. While I have visited the Forbidden City in Beijing and recognized some things (hutongs! Drum Tower! I know you!), I know next to nothing about Chinese history and its historical culture.
Although this book wasn’t the entry point to an aspect of the country’s history I hoped it would be, I think readers who are already somewhat familiar with the topics, people, and events in this part of China’s past will really enjoy what The Last Emperor has to offer.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via NetGalley.
The Last Emperor is densely packed with meticulous research framed around the turbulent political and social miasma surrounding Emperor Puyi’s ascension to the throne as well as his marriages and relationships to Empress Wanrong and second consort Wenxiu.
As I said, this is a meticulously researched book, but I found the presentation of that research to be tangential and disorganized at times. Personally, I think I would have benefited from having a basic knowledge of this time period before going into this book. While I have visited the Forbidden City in Beijing and recognized some things (hutongs! Drum Tower! I know you!), I know next to nothing about Chinese history and its historical culture.
Although this book wasn’t the entry point to an aspect of the country’s history I hoped it would be, I think readers who are already somewhat familiar with the topics, people, and events in this part of China’s past will really enjoy what The Last Emperor has to offer.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Last Emperor or China follows the "rule" of Emperor Puyi and Empress Wanrong. The book also includes the people close to them, including the consort and their personal tutors. I think this novel does a great job of filling in some of the gaps in a tumultuous time in China's history. The author clearly put effort into using primary source materials for his work. He is able to put what happened to them in the context of the larger social and political happenings in China and the world during that time. I found the book very interesting and really enjoyed reading it. This book might not be right for you if you don't know a lot about China's history but if you do I think you will find this a very good read.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is interesting to me on many levels. I find it fascinating that the story centers on Emperor Piyu and Empress Wanrong- the end of the Manchu ruling house of the Qing dynasty.
Many parts of the book were of particular interest to me. I enjoyed reading about the wedding! The whole scene came to life in my mind: the Phoenix chair being dispatched by the palace eunuchs, the bride wearing a crimson satin dragon and Phoenix wedding robe and then being carried through the streets. The second involved thievery and eunuchs. The third was how most eunuchs came to be. I imagine a lot of men will have difficulty reading about that topic.
The author did an excellent job presenting facts in a non boring way! The photos were a nice bonus!
I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of the book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Many parts of the book were of particular interest to me. I enjoyed reading about the wedding! The whole scene came to life in my mind: the Phoenix chair being dispatched by the palace eunuchs, the bride wearing a crimson satin dragon and Phoenix wedding robe and then being carried through the streets. The second involved thievery and eunuchs. The third was how most eunuchs came to be. I imagine a lot of men will have difficulty reading about that topic.
The author did an excellent job presenting facts in a non boring way! The photos were a nice bonus!
I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of the book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I very much enjoyed reading this book. The particular challenge about writing about the last emperor I think is deciding what to leave out and how to structure your writing. I think the author managed both of these things well. The main focus didn’t stray too far from the emperor, empress, and their respective tutors during the last few years of their time in the Forbidden City. There was enough context though for the reader to understand the complex nature of what was happening in China at the time. The strength of this book is in its research, and I enjoyed looking through the various source citations.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. This review represents my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. This review represents my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City by Paul French is a compelling and accessible work of history that brings the final years of imperial China vividly to life. The author skillfully combines historical research with engaging storytelling, providing insight into the political upheaval, cultural transformation, and personal struggles surrounding the end of the Qing dynasty. I appreciated how the book balanced historical detail with human stories, making complex events easy to follow without losing depth. The vivid descriptions and thoughtful analysis kept me interested throughout. Overall, this is an informative and engaging read that I would recommend to anyone interested in Chinese history, biographies, or the dramatic transition from empire to modern China.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An enjoyable read which dives into the life of the last emperor and empress and the closest people around them.
We aren't bogged down with details, nor was I left wanting more explanations. Paul has achieved a good balance and style which made it an easy and engaging read.
The pacing is decent, though it picks up considerably towards the end and starts flying through events after the expulsion from the forbidden city.
The formatting of the footnotes could be weird at times, but that may have been exasperated by the pdf format.
We aren't bogged down with details, nor was I left wanting more explanations. Paul has achieved a good balance and style which made it an easy and engaging read.
The pacing is decent, though it picks up considerably towards the end and starts flying through events after the expulsion from the forbidden city.
The formatting of the footnotes could be weird at times, but that may have been exasperated by the pdf format.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The best book that I have read in a very long time”
I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley before publication. I was already aware of the author having read his previous book Wallis Simpson, Her Lotus Year which was fascinating. This account of the last Emperor of China's final two years living in the Forbidden City is excellent, you feel as though you really get to know the Emperor and his Empress, it is full of interesting information on a pivotal moment in world history. It is a very well written book and so easy to read. Highly recommended.
I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley before publication. I was already aware of the author having read his previous book Wallis Simpson, Her Lotus Year which was fascinating. This account of the last Emperor of China's final two years living in the Forbidden City is excellent, you feel as though you really get to know the Emperor and his Empress, it is full of interesting information on a pivotal moment in world history. It is a very well written book and so easy to read. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
This is a historical look of the life of the last emperor of China. It takes of the Manchu dynasty and the ultimate downfall. A royal couple who seemingly had t all but even privilege does not lead to
happiness. A look at a different culture.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
This is a historical look of the life of the last emperor of China. It takes of the Manchu dynasty and the ultimate downfall. A royal couple who seemingly had t all but even privilege does not lead to
happiness. A look at a different culture.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book tells the story of the last emperor of China. Piyu and his empress, Wanrong, were basically imprisoned in Peking's Forbidden City for two years, and then they were exiled. This is the story of those two years.
I had never heard of the last emperor of China, so I found this book fascinating reading. I'm not a huge fan of non fiction, but this kept me totally enthralled. Highly recommended.
I had never heard of the last emperor of China, so I found this book fascinating reading. I'm not a huge fan of non fiction, but this kept me totally enthralled. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book shows what the last two years were like for the last Emperor and Empress in China. They were married in 1922 and expelled from the Forbidden City in 1924. There are plenty of details in this book and I loved the pictures that were included. I also liked learning about what life was like for the Emperor and Empress' tutors. This book is rather sad, but definitely interesting.
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Yay!
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Yay!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of, The Last Emperor of China, by Paul French, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book explores China's last dynasty. In the 1920's in China the former Emperor was Puyi, he had an Empress Wanrong, they were in power until they were exiled, and treated very badly. This was a very intriguing and interesting read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Last Emperor of China
By Paul French
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing book!
This book is so incredibly detailed! I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading about it. It also has multiple images. Just about anything I could think to ask about the couple, or that time period, is covered in a way that is entertaining and explained.
Daily life prior to the couple, how the couple was chosen, what happened to make him the last Emperor, daily life after the couple wed, why they didn't do foot binding, what they ate, what they wore, treasures in the kingdom, servants, what the community was like throughout this period, new inventions (telephone and cars), tutors, and the end of the reign. All wonderful explained like you're walking through and getting a tour.
If history interests you, or China, or you're curious, this is for you! This is a solid 5-star book. There really is so much information in here!
By Paul French
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this amazing book!
This book is so incredibly detailed! I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading about it. It also has multiple images. Just about anything I could think to ask about the couple, or that time period, is covered in a way that is entertaining and explained.
Daily life prior to the couple, how the couple was chosen, what happened to make him the last Emperor, daily life after the couple wed, why they didn't do foot binding, what they ate, what they wore, treasures in the kingdom, servants, what the community was like throughout this period, new inventions (telephone and cars), tutors, and the end of the reign. All wonderful explained like you're walking through and getting a tour.
If history interests you, or China, or you're curious, this is for you! This is a solid 5-star book. There really is so much information in here!
July 20, 2026
This book was thoroughly researched and explained the background and people closest to the last emperor of China, Puyi, and his wife, the empress, Wanrong. It focuses on their time in the Forbidden City and explains what happened after they were expelled. The author goes back and forth on the timeline, which confused me a bit, but I still really enjoyed it. I learned a lot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having watched the film The Last Emperor many years ago, I was delighted to receive a copy of the biography of Emperor Puyi and Empress Wanrong.
It gave a detail account including photographs of their lives including their time living at the Forbidden city.
A really interesting book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
It gave a detail account including photographs of their lives including their time living at the Forbidden city.
A really interesting book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such an interesting book! I'm not much for history but this one is the exception. It was a very interesting book to read and I think everyone would enjoy it. Thank you for such a interesting book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a recount of the life of Puyi and the decline of his dynasty. Accomplished intended writing . Sad story. I was given an advanced reader copy of this novel by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review. #netgalley @netgalley #stmartinspress @stmartinspress #paulfrench @authorpaulfrench
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
A sad story of a couple caught in a historical cross-wind during a time of the waning of the great dynasties, European and Asian.
This book was exhaustively researched and intelligently footnoted. What could have been a dry story moves at a good narrative pace and presents a human portrait of Emperor Puyi and his Empress Wanrong. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A sad story of a couple caught in a historical cross-wind during a time of the waning of the great dynasties, European and Asian.
This book was exhaustively researched and intelligently footnoted. What could have been a dry story moves at a good narrative pace and presents a human portrait of Emperor Puyi and his Empress Wanrong. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a lover of history, I found The Last Emperor of China to be fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed the authors descriptions The Forbidden City, the history of the Qing dynasty, and what life must have been like for Puyi, Wanrong, and their tutors. I've never really wanted to visit China, but this book made me wish I could go back and see what it was like in the 20's.
It's clear Paul French researched this book well, and his knowledge and love of China shine through in his writing. He brings new evidence that changes the way we can see Puyi and Wanrong's relationship, Reginald Fleming's relationship with Wanrong's tutor, Isabel Ingram, and allows us to have compassion for this child emperor.
Overall, a fascinating and well written book anyone can enjoy.
Thank you St Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
It's clear Paul French researched this book well, and his knowledge and love of China shine through in his writing. He brings new evidence that changes the way we can see Puyi and Wanrong's relationship, Reginald Fleming's relationship with Wanrong's tutor, Isabel Ingram, and allows us to have compassion for this child emperor.
Overall, a fascinating and well written book anyone can enjoy.
Thank you St Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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