The Last Emperor of China

Book Categories: The Last Emperor, Movie, Reginald Johnston, The Qing Dynasty, The Forbidden City, 19th & 20th Century China, Children's Books

The Last Emperor

From Emperor to Citizen by Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi. This is P'u Yi's autobiography (also published under the title "The Last Manchu.")

The Last Emperor by Arnold C. Brackman is a vivid biography of P'u Yi. I've read this one and I found it highly interesting. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

The Last Emperor by Edward Behr. The author met P'u Yi and interviewed those who knew him. Available from Alibris.

The Puppet Emperor by Brian Power. Available from Alibris.

Books About the Forbidden City

Movie

The Last Emperor. This 1987 movie was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. Part of it was filmed in the Forbidden City. It won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing and six other categories. John Lone plays the grown-up P'u Yi, and Peter O'Toole plays his British mentor, Reginald Johnston. Formatted for North American audiences.

Bertolucci's The Last Emperor: Multiple Takes by Bruce H. Sklarew, Bonnie S. Kaufman, Ellen Handler Spitz, and Diane M. Borden. This book provides criticism and interpretation of the film.

More Chinese Royalty DVDs
Other Royal Movies and Documentaries

Reginald Johnston

Twilight in the Forbidden City is by Reginald F. Johnston, the British diplomat who became the young emperor's friend and mentor. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Tutor to the Dragon Emperor: The Life of Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston by Raymond Lamont-Brown. A biography of P'u Yi's British mentor and friend. Out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

The Manchus

The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley. Novel about a real-life Manchu princess who became a spy for the Japanese and was executed in 1948.

More Books About the Qing Dynasty

China in the 19th and 20th Centuries

The Great Chinese Revolution by John King Fairbank covers Chinese history between 1800 and 1985.

The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolution 1895-1980 was written by respected historian Jonathan D. Spence.

Thunder Out of China by Theodore Harold White, and Annalee Jacoby. About the conflict between China and Japan.

China Since 1911 by Richard T. Phillips.

More Books About Chinese Imperial History
Books About Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi (Cixi)

Children's Books

Kids Who Ruled: The Last Emperor by Jackie Gaff, illustrated by Anthony Lewis. A biography of 20th century Chinese emperor P'u Yi for young readers.

More Children's Books About China