The Soong Dynasty - Softcover

Seagrave, Sterling

3.99

714 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0552141089 ISBN 13: 9780552141086

Publisher: Corgi Books, 1996

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

The story of the Soong family whose power and wealth have dominated China and American policy towards Asia in the 20th century. It chronicles the family's roots from the middle of the 19th century and their rise to power thereafter. Descendants of a runaway, they grew up in America under the protection of the Methodist church and returned to their homeland to make a fortune selling Western bibles. The Soong family became the principle rulers of China during the first half of the 20th century. The book describes the intcricate rise to power of Charlie Soong and his children, whom he married to some of China's most powerful men to create a network of power and influence which was to last for over 50 years. It is a tale of power, money, corruption and greed.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

"Fast-paced and jammed with racy details.""-- New York Times Book Review"

From the Back Cover:

The Soong Dynasty is the first full behind-the-scenes account of the extraordinary Soong family whose power and wealth have dominated China and American policy towards Asia this century. It is an extraordinary work of historical detection which traces the family's roots from the middle of the last century and their explosive rise thereafter.

Descendants of a runaway, they grew up in America under the protection of the Methodist church and returned to their homeland to make a fortune selling Western bibles. The Soong Family became the principal rulers of China during the first half of the twentieth century. In The Soong Dynasty, Sterling Seagrave describes for the first time the intricate and fascinating rise to power of Charlie Soong and his children, whom he married to some of China's most powerful men to create a network of power and influence which was to last for over fifty years. It is a classic tale of power, money, corruption and greed with elements of tragedy and comedy.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.