Over the years, I have read about 10 of Pearl S. Buck's fine novels and written about several of them on this blog. Recently, in a large purchase of used books from the estate of a former school principal in this community, I obtained several first editions of Buck's novels including a copy of "Imperial Woman" which was published in 1956. I had never read it and completed it a few weeks ago although I have procrastinated about writing a blog post about it for no good reason. After having read all three novels in the "Good Earth" trilogy, three novellas which were published under the pseudonym John Sedges, "The Living Reed" which is a Korean novel and, in my opinion, one of her finest other than her masterpiece "The Good Earth". I love her work and don't believe that she ever allowed herself to write and publish a second rate book. I had loved "The Living Reed" nearly as much as "The Good Earth", but I have to say that I am now convinced that it must be at most her third best novel running behind "Imperial Woman" and "The Good Earth".
"Imperial Woman" is a fictionized biography of Tzu Hsi, the last empress of China who was born of low caste and brought into the Forbidden City as a candidate to become a concubine of the sitting emperor at the time. She is not only chosen to be one of his concubines but manages to bear him a son, the heir to the Dragon Throne, and becomes his most beloved partner and advisor. She initially devotes her life to helping her son gain and maintain the throne. But due to the many weaknesses of her son and his early death, she then manages to gain total control of the kingdom through a male heir she has chosen from the family of one of the dead emperor's advisors. With the help of her cousin Jung Lu to whom she had been betrothed prior to her becoming a royal concubine, she not only managed to hold onto power but increased her power and popularity over the kingdom while living as a conflicted type of ruler who is loving, devout, and intellectual while also being absolutely ruthless when it becomes necessary.
It is said that Buck strove to depict both sides of the empress, who is actually only a regent for the child emperor she has chosen. Buck did an excellent job of achieving that goal. The character of the empress can be loving and devoted to her son and the few people she allows to be closer to her while also being capable of ordering the deaths of those who oppose her. She is a powerful and powerfully depicted ruler. She is also dealing with a lifelong conflict between her love for Jung Lu and the inability to allow it to be a public matter in her royal role. She arranges a loveless marriage for Jung Lu with one of the women who assists her on a daily basis and they both live with the conflict of being in love and unable to allow that love to be manifested fully.
This is one of Pearl Buck's best efforts in my opinion and well worth reading by any lover of great literature. It helps prove, along with "The Living Reed", that Pearl Buck's best work was not finished after "The Good Earth". She was an incredible novelist and knew the China in which he spent much of life as few Americans ever could. If you haven't read it, find a copy and reward yourself with this wonderful book.
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