Why read The Court of the Lion?

Book cover of The Court of the Lion

Book description

Set in eighth-century China amidst the splendour and decadence of the court of the T'ang emperor, this tale aims to transport the reader to a mysterious and fascinating era. Cooney is a writer and painter and Altieri is a scholar of Chinese history.

Explore

Topics

China

Genres

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Court of the Lion as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

John Schettler

Author

I have loved historical fiction set in an Asian Atmosphere ever since I fell head over heels into the writing of James Clavell with books like Shogun and Tai-Pan. So I picked up Court of the Lion and fell in love again. The book recounts the fateful collapse of the Chinese Tang Dynasty during the An-Lushan rebellion, and shows how this general came in from the fringes of the empire and worked his way right into the heart of the Imperial family. With exquisitely drawn characters and prose that can be lyrical at times, the authors present the story of…

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Victor Cunrui Xiong

Author

Based on a true story from the eighth century, it is a fictionalized telling of one of the most powerful, tragic chronicles in Chinese history: the events leading up to the Rebellion of An Lushan and the fall of the Emperor Minghuang (Xuanzong) and his Precious Consort Yang Guifei and the dazzling Yang family. All of the major characters are real people, immortalized in the works of renowned Tang poets Li Po (Li Bai) and Du Fu.

This novel deals with the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, grandson of the Empress Wu and Tang Gaozong, and great-grandson of Tang Taizong (Li…

From Victor's list on The best nonfiction and fiction books on China in the Tang period.