The Secret Stories of the Eight Presidents of the Republic of China

The presidency of the Republic of China was the pinnacle of power, and also a vortex of fate. Peeling back the haze of official histories, this book explores the secrets behind eight presidents: Sun Yat-sen's ideals and compromises, Yuan Shikai's shattered imperial dream, Cao Kun's bribery of voters with gold bars, Li Yuanhong's struggle to survive between opposing sides... From the glory of taking office to the desolation of the final curtain, these pages reveal power deals left out of textbooks and honest portraits of human nature, bringing to life the personal struggles and helplessness of an era marked by dramatic change.