Of China — The Last Empress: The She-dragon

To write a compelling essay on this work, consider these central themes:

by Keith Laidler (2003) explores the life of Empress Dowager Cixi, painting her as a brilliant but ruthless autocrat who rose from a third-grade concubine to become the de facto ruler of the Qing Dynasty for nearly 50 years. Laidler's work often adopts a sensationalized tone, focusing on a centuries-old prophecy that a woman from the Yeho-Nala tribe would bring the Manchu rule to ruin—a destiny he argues Cixi fulfilled through her pursuit of power over the survival of her dynasty. Essay Foundation: Key Themes and Analysis The Last Empress: The She-Dragon of China