In the sequel to the novel The Orchid Empress, The Last Empress, the reader can learn about the history of China at the end of the 19th century, in which power concentrated in one hand means permanence.

And the holder of power is none other than the unshakable, daring, brave and witty Empress Che-hsi, the former Mistress Orchidea or Jehonala - as the readers got to know in the first volume of Anchee Min's novel.

In the novel The Last Empress, Orchidea moves from the intimate world of concubines to the world stage of history. Despite the personal losses that consumed her soul, the empress, who was doomed to resignation, yet determined and aware of her duty, stood her ground in her responsible role: in the spirit of progressive spirituality - at the same time, faithful to the ancient traditions of her nation and the values ​​of the Manchu clan - she committed herself to the interests of her country; it tries to hold China's opposing forces together, and at the same time fend off the attacks and extortions of the increasingly aggressively expanding European powers.

In Anchee Min's novel, he provides a comprehensive picture of one of the most important figures in Chinese history - surrounded by contradictory opinions by posterity - behind which there is comprehensive research work.

The western press of the time disparaged her as the "dragon lady" and portrayed her as a manipulative, bloodthirsty woman who was driven only by the desire for power and who was constantly driven by blood lust. Anchee Min's Orchid, on the other hand, is a humane, honest, flesh-and-blood figure who sacrificed everything to keep the ancient, now doomed empire together for a while longer.

Through the detailed, yet extremely interesting, descriptions seasoned with poetic images and sometimes poems, we can gain an insight into the last days of an unknown, contradictory, archaic empire. Thanks to the sensitive depictions, the beautiful palaces and lakes, the magnificent fabrics, the exquisite Manchu hairstyles and the heavy jewelry come to life before us.