The son of the grand eunuch

by Charles Pettit

The character of the Grand Eunuch belongs to his- tory. His real name was Li Lien Yin and he was the favorite of the celebrated Dowager Empress Tsen Hi. During nearly half a century he dominated China by his mysterious powers and he played a particularly important part in 1900, at the time of the Boxer Risings and the siege of the Legations. The populace bestowed on this singular individual the nickname of “Pi Siao Li." The patronymic being Li I have merely adopted an inversion; Li Pi Siao. » His son Li Pi Tchou is an imaginary personage, but by no means an incredible one when we consider that these eunuchs form a special clan and that many of them make sure of posterity prior to undergoing castration. Finally I have done my utmost to depict with the greatest exactitude the character, morals and customs of Ancient China. The revolution of 1912 has obviously modified some exterior details, and the Imperial Court no longer exists. It is therefore needful to go back to the 1890s or the turn of the century to realize the epoch of this novel. The philosophy of this historical novel may seem quite foreign and peculiar to modern westerners for it is very Chinese indeed.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1927