This book tells the glorious history of the Sui and Tang dynasties from 581 to 907. It begins with Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, then moves on to the Tang Dynasty, covering the feud between Tang Gaozu Li Yuan and the Yang family, the founding struggle to seize the empire, an analysis of Wu Zetian's life, the startling secrets behind the Mawei Slope Incident, the Li Tang imperial family's flight from Chang'an, and finally the rise of the Later Liang. With meticulous attention to detail, it brings the splendid Tang Golden Age to life. Moving beyond a fragmented view of history that focuses narrowly on isolated events, the book uses historical events as its main thread, enriched with vivid historical details and character portraits. Through historical analysis and rigorous logic, it reconstructs the fascinating history of the Sui and Tang dynasties. “The Unputdownable History of the Tang Dynasty, Volume One” is the opening chapter of Tang history, covering the preceding Sui Dynasty and its close ties to the Tang: the hardships Emperor Wen Yang Jian faced in founding the Sui, Emperor Yang Yang Guang's efforts to preserve and reform it, and Li Yuan's first steps onto the stage of history. “The Unputdownable History of the Tang Dynasty, Volume Two” recounts Tang Gaozu Li Yuan's path to founding the dynasty and the shocking Xuanwu Gate Incident. “The Unputdownable History of the Tang Dynasty, Volume Three” covers the turbulent histories of Tang Taizong Li Shimin, Tang Gaozong Li Zhi, and Wu Zetian, the female emperor whose name would live through the ages. “The Unputdownable History of the Tang Dynasty, Volume Four” explores Wu Zetian's imperial vision in her later years, the end of an era of women wielding political power, and the arrival of Tang Xuanzong Li Longji. “The Unputdownable History of the Tang Dynasty, Volume Five” recounts the An Lushan Rebellion and the historical events surrounding the four Tang emperors who ruled after Li Longji. “The Unputdownable History of the Tang Dynasty, Volume Six” covers the reigns of the final ten Tang emperors.
The writing style of this book is very attractive and the writing style is good. The author tells the historical story as wonderfully as a novel! I particularly like the author's portrayal of characters, such as Sui Yang Emperor Yang Guang. Although he is an annoying character, the author writes his complexity very vividly. Moreover, the historical details in the book are also very rich, which made me understand the glory of the Tang Dynasty better. All in all, this is a great book worth reading!