Edward Rutherfurd brings his renowned talents to the Middle Kingdom, when the clash of East and West in the 19th century shattered the stability of the 2,000-year-old empire. This epic tale chronicles the great struggle for power, from the Opium Wars that erupted in 1839 through the Taiping revolt, the British burning of the Summer Palace, the Boxer Rebellion, and the long rule of the Dragon Empress, culminating in the momentous revolution of 1911. We meet a young village wife struggling with rigid traditions, Manchu warriors, powerful eunuchs and concubines of the Forbidden City, rapacious English soldiers and earnest missionaries, savvy Chinese pirates and sage philosophers. Rutherfurd brings to vivid life the ever-changing fortunes of Chinese, British and American families as they negotiate the tides of history.

In this breathtaking saga of love, war, art and intrigue, Edward Rutherfurd has set his sights on the most magnificent city in the world: Paris. Moving back and forth in time across centuries, the story unfolds through intimate and vivid tales of self-discovery, divided loyalties, passion, and long-kept secrets of characters both fictional and real, all set against the backdrop of the glorious city.