Bonus chapter and illustrated edition make this the best choice!

books:

	• Twilight in the Forbidden City Reginald Fleming Johnston Amereon Ltd, 1995 average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Twilight, the beginning of an end.

Mr. Johnson's work romanticizes the truth behind the opulence that existed within the Forbidden City. The vislual feast presented in the book differed much from what was provided in the film, but, both touched upon the essence of what the author suggested; there was granduer, there was, glitter, and, there was truth in what the author saw. The traumatic changes in the social order of the day happened over years, not minutes. The book did little to present what was happening outside of the palace walls, and the film did even less. The film did focus on the attrocities being committed upon the Chinese people by the invading Japanese during the war, but, it did not touch upon those committed by the foreign influences, and, the ruling class itself. Maybe it was a good thing that this truth was not presented in the film, because,the film would then have to be called, "The Saga of the Twilight in the Forbidden City." Sometimes its better if you just read and understand the book in, and, of itself, then attempt to understand the historical truth being presented by any ONE the book. Go figure!

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Takes you to a different time and space.

Love this book, since being young I have borrowed this book from interlibrary loans, now I have my own copy. Pictures and diagrams are not bad from the copied original. Maybe one day I can own a 1st printing, but for now I am glad to have a copy on my own book shelve.

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History of China and of colonialism

Johnston's book is a fascinating study of the end of imperialism in China, but also, as an object of study itself, of the agencies of colonialism. I recommend the book on that basis as much as on the value of Johnston's firsthand account of the last days of the Manchu emperors. "Enjoy with..." as the foodies say, James Morris' lively "Pax Brittanica" trilogy, for example, or letters/memoirs of Gertrude Bell and TE Lawrence. To my mind all of these give a fascinating insight into the good-hearted, brilliant-minded but often disastrously wrong-headed players in colonialism. It's clear in Johnston's book that he went into his job as imperial tutor with an agenda: within days of starting he's outlined a plan to radically disrupt the status quo. All with best intentions, true integrity, and a thorough knowledge of the country and culture. There's a lot for us to learn here.

FWIW, I consider myself a history "dabbler" and these books keep my limited attention,intellect and curiosity fully engaged, so don't be put off by worrying that they're too like the classes we all slept through...

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COMMENTS ON TWIGHLIGHT IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY

Tis is a book written by the tutor of Pu Yi, last emperor of the Manchu dynasty in China. It contains a wealth of information concerning life in the forbidden city in the last years of the dynasty. The movie, 'the Last Emperor,"shows Johnston as Pu Yi's tutor and is also excellent in its portrayal of events in the early years of the 20th century as seen from the forbidden city.The child emperor's first question of Johnston illustrates the cultural gap between them: "Where are your ancestors buried?" and the response -- "In Scotland, your majesty."

Bonus chapter and illustrated edition make this the best choice!

I was very happy to have this book as this edition has all the original photograph's and a previously unpublished bonus chapter (written by Johnston under a pen name) about his meeting with the 13th Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama and the Empress Dowager both held the title of Living Buddha and were to be in Peking on the same day... a difficult issue for the court to resolve... this extra chapter explains how the situation resolved itself!.

Johnston provides a good deal of anecdotal material for the last days of the Ch'ing (Qing Dynasty) court before the 1911 Revolution. He knew many of the active players in those events, and of historical significance are his observations on the Ch'ing court's political structure, and in particular the Nei Wu Fu or Imperial Household Department. Johnston had little use for the Empress T'zu-hsi (Empress Dowager Cixi) and many other principal players in these events.

Twilight in the Forbidden City is very much a history of an entire period and not an exclusive portrait of the last Emperor of China. The latter impression is perhaps a result of the film The Last Emperor having been based on the book.

In the fourth impression, published in December 1934 by Victor Gollancz Ltd., additional information such as the fully spread fan was developed and some important parts of the history, such as confinement of Ts'ao K'un (Cao Kun) and K'ang You-wei's (Kang Youwei) refuge country, were reviewed for modification with "preface to the fourth impression"

In the 4th edition, Johnston also reveals the name of a key character in the story.

A must read for understanding the goings in in the last days of the Manchu empire and for anyone planning to visit China.

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reviews: page 1, 2

From 1919 to 1924, Reginald F. Johnston, a British colonial official, scholar, writer and great admirer of Chinese culture, served as tutor and adviser to the last emperor of China. The emperor P'u-i had abdicated his throne in 1912. However, in order to ensure a rapid and peaceful transfer of authority, he was allowed to retain his title and was permitted to remain in residence in the Forbidden City in Peking, which he did until the winter of 1924. This book, first published in 1934, is Johnston's account of that period, during which he was uniquely placed to observe the twilight years of the Ch'ing dynasty. This edition is now reprinted with the addition of an Introduction by Pamela Atwell, author of British Mandarins and Chinese Reformers: The British Administration of Weihaiwei (1989-39) and the Territory's Return to Chinese Rule.

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