Heir to the 267 year-old Ch'ing Dynasty, P'u Yi was enthroned as emperor just as China was beginning its metamorphosis from absolute monarchy to party dictatorship. Anna Hestler tells the tragic story of the last emperor, a naive character, manipulated by successive governments and virtually imprisoned by historical events.

Born in Canada, Anna Hestler studied in both Canada and the UK. After graduating from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, she moved to Hong Kong, where she has lived and worked for the past seven years. Her other books include Shanghai Posters and The Legacy of Lhasa(formAsia Books);Cultures of the World: Yemen and Cultures of the World: Wales(Time Books).