China Age

Trying to squeeze an entire history of Chinese civilization into a brief, one volume account is a formidable task, but one that has succeeded brilliantly here. Hilda Hookham has provided us with a concise story that, while not getting too entangled with personalities and cultural issues, manages to navigate the swirling passage of events that comprise over 3,000 years of Chinese political history.

The Silk Whisper of China. The daughter of a respected Chinese merchant, Mai Lian moved through London's elite circles like a rare pearl, adorned in silk embroidered with the golden thread of her ancestors. Her beauty was delicate yet striking. Her almond shaped eyes holding the wisdom of dynasties past. When she first met Lord Edward Harrington at a botanical garden, their fingers brushed over the petals of a rare orchid, sending an electric thrill through her veins.