“The Last Empress” – champion of modern China

“Worth a read?” is not your ordinary book review; it is a meta-review. In other words, it provides an overview of the opinions contained in a variety of book reviews published in the media at large. This week we take a look at “The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and the Birth of Modern China”, written by Hannah Pakula and published in 2009.

What is it all about?

Born in 1898 in Shanghai, China, Soong May-ling had always been destined for great things. Her father was a self-made Methodist millionaire, and in a time when such things were almost unheard of, he sent his daughters off to get an American education.

Graduating from Wellesley College with a major in English, Soong May-ling thereafter returned to China to do what most educated women of her time did – find a wealthy and powerful husband. In this she succeeded.

In 1927 Soong May-ling married Chiang Kai-shek to become Madame Chiang Kai-shek – the name by which she is better known. Chiang Kai-shek was to become the political and military leader of 20th century China, unifying the country and turning his Nationalist government into a formidable force before it was finally overthrown by the Chinese Communist Party.

In “The Last Empress”, author Hannah Pakula describes how Chiang Kai-shek’s rise to power was in no small part Madame’s doing. Speaking excellent English – and with a Georgia accent to boot – Madame was Chiang Kai-shek’s translator, interpreter and most trusted foreign affairs adviser.

Her talents as an international propagandist were to turn her into a political celebrity in the United States. Her beauty, charm and diamond-encrusted dresses ensured that she hobnobbed with the likes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Wendell Willkie, Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth. She brought the US Congress to tears and drew thousand to her public lectures. And in the process, she charmed the US government out of billions of dollars for both the Chinese war effort and the Kai-sheks’ own pockets.

Madame Chiang Kai-shek was incredibly beautiful yet ruthless. She supported Chinese soldiers on the ground, but spent millions on fur coats. She was tart, yet she was often the only female voice in a room full of male war-time leaders. “Life” claimed she was "probably the most powerful woman in the world", while “Liberty” declared, "The greatest man in Asia is a woman". “The Last Empress” is her story.

Pakula is the author of two previous biographies of royal women: “The Last Romanic” is a historical biography of Queen Marie of Romania; while “An Uncommon Woman” tells the story of Vicky, Queen Victoria’s eldest child, who would become the Empress of Germany.

Pakula claims to be the only woman ever to have attended Wellesley College, the Sorbonne in Paris and Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

What do others say?

“The Last Empress” is over 800 pages long and spans 137 years; in many ways, it tells the story of China as much as it does the story of Madame. However, this quality is also what has evoked most of the criticism against the book.

Pakula is criticised for spending too much time delving into China’s revolutionary history, meaning there are long sections where Madame does not feature at all. These nonessential diversions are said to flatten much of the narrative movement.

Some factual errors have been pointed out as well, and sensitive readers are warned that the descriptions of torture are particularly brutal.

Despite her best attempts, Pakula has not been able to explain the enigma that is Madame Chiang Kai-shek – although, admittedly, this may be an impossible task. However, even Pakula’s critics finished the book, and most had at least as much praise to offer as they had criticism.

“Telegraph.co.uk”: "The best biographers bring the reader into almost personal contact with their subject. But by attempting to frame Madame Chiang in the sweep of history, Pakula makes it impossible for herself to create the illusion of intimacy."

“The Wall Street Journal”: "Ms Pakula writes like a dream, and her narrative is certainly a pleasure to read; anyone who wants to learn about China in the first half of the 20th century will find 'The Last Empress' a good guide. But it is really two books in one."

How do I get hold of it?

“The Last Empress” is published by Simon & Schuster and is available at a price of approximately R351.00.