The Daughter of Heaven

"The Daughter of Heaven" is a novel written by French author Pierre Loti in collaboration with Judith Gautier, the daughter of the famous French poet Theophile Gautier. The novel is set in China and tells the story of a young Chinese girl, Ko-Lin, who is chosen to be the concubine of the Emperor. She quickly becomes a favorite of the Emperor and rises through the ranks to become one of the most powerful women in the palace. But this power is not easy to hold continuously. Even after brutal politics, Ko-Lin is still the most powerful woman! But, How? The novel is notable for its vivid descriptions of life in the Forbidden City, the imperial palace in Beijing, and for its portrayal of the intricate and often brutal politics of the Chinese court. Loti and Gautier's writing is characterized by their attention to detail and their ability to evoke a sense of time and place. Today, the novel is still read as a classic of French literature and provides an interesting window into the cultural and political climate of turn-of-the-century France.