Wu: The Chinese Empress Who Schemed, Seduced and Murdered Her Way to Become a Living God

"Clements' skilful narrative leaves it to the reader to decide whether Wu was a tyrant or a dutiful stateswoman... illuminating and enjoyable."
- Publishers Weekly

"Clements tells the story of Wu with a light but informed touch"
- Literary Review

"A dramatic account of one of the more colourful characters in Chinese history."
- Good Book Guide

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1300 years ago, China mourned the death of a living goddess, the Empress Wu, Sage Mother of Mankind, Mistress of the Eight Directions, She Who Attains Heaven, Lady of the Brilliant Void. Cursed by her rivals as the Treacherous Fox and the Serpent's Heart, accused of strangling her daughter and poisoning her son, she is remembered as the saviour of a dynasty.

In the 7th century AD, a merchant's daughter used her looks, cunning, and connections to rise through the ranks of the palace concubines. Just as she attracted the emperor's eye, her imperial master fell ill, and she seduced his heir. Rescued from life in a convent by the besotted new emperor, she lied, poisoned and murdered her way through her rivals, until all were imprisoned or executed. As empress, she ruled China from behind the throne after her husband suffered a crippling stroke. After his death, she tried to rule through two more malleable successors, but soon took the throne herself, as China's first and only reigning empress. She proclaimed herself a living god, and was only deposed in her eighties after jealous courtiers murdered her two young lovers.

Excerpt 1: Brute Beasts
Excerpt 2: Treacherous Fox
Excerpt 3: The Cruel Clerks