Olivia Milburn Boeken

'One genius trying to work out what another genius has done - it results in the most appalling carnage . . . ' The world only makes sense to Rong Jinzhen through numbers. As an orphaned child he counts the ants on the ground and writes calculations on wrapping paper. But as this fragile, isolated boy grows up, his mathematical genius is recognized by the secret services. Recruited as a codebreaker to crack the notorious 'Purple' cipher, he begins to unravel . . . 'Powerful, an entirely original work - a mix of spy thriller, historical saga and mathematical puzzle.' David Evans, Financial Times 'Strange, twisting, often beautiful . . . it grips from the first page. An absolute joy.' Economist 'Dreamy, surreal and unexpected . . . possesses an aesthetic of its own, a world in which the characters feel constantly teetering on the edge of obsession.' Tash Aw, Daily Telegraph 'Superb, utterly fascinating.' Edward Wilson,Independent 'Truly a page turner - gripping plot, otherworldly aura and flamboyant detail.' Perry Link, The New York Times Book Review

Zhao Feiyan (45-1 BCE), the second empress appointed by Emperor Cheng of the Han dynasty (207 BCE-220 CE), was born in slavery and trained in the performing arts, a background that made her appointment as empress highly controversial. Subsequent persecution by her political enemies eventually led to her being forced to commit suicide. After her death, her reputation was marred by accusations of vicious scheming, murder of other consorts and their offspring, and relentless promiscuity, punctuated by bouts of extravagant shopping. This first book-length study of Zhao Feiyan and her literary legacy includes a complete translation of The Scandalous Tale of Zhao Feiyan (Zhao Feiyan waizhuan), a Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) erotic novella that describes in great detail the decadent lifestyle enjoyed by imperial favorites in the harem of Emperor Cheng. This landmark text was crucial for establishing writings about palace women as the accepted forum for discussing sexual matters, including fetishism, obsession, jealousy, incompatibility in marriage, and so on. Using historical documentation, Olivia Milburn reconstructs the evolution of Zhao Feiyan's story and illuminates the broader context of palace life for women and the novella's social influence.