Empress

Ignore the cover and the complaints about it. Yes, the COVER is grossly inaccurate, but the NOVEL is a decent work of historical fiction. It maintains the basic facts and presents interesting/reasonably probable "what ifs" to fill in the gaps (which are many). Be warned: this is by far the most sympathetic and favorable presentation of the Empress Wu. Mccune's desire for a strong, intelligent, female protagonist somtimes blinds her to Wu's very real ruthlessness and love of power. Take it from someone's who has read the book (more than once) and not just seen the cover.

While the cover may be a thousand years off, we would do well to attribute this mistake to the publisher not the author. As a scholar currently researching the Empress Wu Zetian I can tell you that coming up with historical information on her can be tricky and difficult. Yet, Evelyn McCune does a masterful job of filling in the historical outlines of Wu's life into a believable and somewhat plausible (although a bit romantic) account. If the job of historical fiction is to make historical sympathetic, then McCune certainly achieves this end- a laudable feat given that the historical figure in question was one of the most violent and ruthless despots in Chinese history. McCune not only humanizes Wu Zetian, but justifies many of her actions (even if some of the less noble moments are glossed over.) The book should not to be taken as the gospel truth, but it is a very enjoyable novel. Then again, that's why they call it historical *fiction* isn't it?

The novel, Empress, by Evelyn McCune, is an extraordinary epic of one woman's journey through life to become a powerful ruler of China. This story begins with the young Wu Jao, an insignificant child, who is summoned to the palace to become one of Emperor Taitsung's new concubines. Because of Wu Jao's honesty, intelligence and logic, combined with her innocence and beauty, she earns the friendship and love of the great emporer. Upon his death though, she finds herself banished to a convent.The new emperor, Emperor Kaotsung, remembers Wu Jao from his childhood, how fond of her he was, and sends for her to return to the palace. When she returns, she finds herself in a place of horror. She fights for justice in this land that has changed for the worse since Emperor Taitsung's death. Evelyn McCune writes wonderful descriptions of seventh-century China, both the land and customs, and the character of Wu Jao is bold, strong and inspiring, though she doesn't go into much depth on other characters. Some parts were long while reading, but this is a novel rich in content and enchantment. She combines sophistication with treachery and creates the perfect atmosphere for her story. This was a wonderful reading experience.