The End of the Empire: The Xinhai Revolution

The End of Imperial Rule: The Beginning and End of the Xinhai Revolution, written by Zhang Cheng, centers on the Xinhai Revolution and recounts the history and social changes in China between 1908 and 1912. More precisely, the book begins with Emperor Xuantong's accession to the throne and ends with the Nanjing Provisional Government moving north. This was a time of intense upheaval in Chinese society, when people and events were tangled together in great complexity. This history is serious, and difficult to portray. Drawing on the sources at his disposal, the author focuses on the major events and recounts them largely in chronological order, weaving in introductions to important figures and adding colorful historical details.