Customer Reviews
Good Read - By: M. Mukhtar, 25 Aug 2007 
This book is full of history & an honest & well researched account of the first Emperor of China. For Jonathan Clements this project must have been very difficult. To find & research on a topic where there are not many entries or much written about he has done well & wrote a informative book about the life of the very first Emperor of China.
After hard work the first emperor decided to be callled an 'Emperor' rather then a king. Giving himself the name of the ruler of the world. It was his passion to rule the world & to capture as many countries as he could. He died young & was beginning to achieve his success. He wanted to hand over his reins to his son & after his closest associate changed the will of the first emperor, the wrong son was made Emperor. The son has predicted to loose alll his father has achieved. The son that was supposed to be emperor was forced to commit suicide as he thought this was what his father wanted. The First emperor's dynasty lasted only a decade.
Worth the read & a true account of the Chinese history.
The rise and fall of Ying Zheng - By: T. R. Alexander, 04 Nov 2006 I came to this book having seen a couple of documentaries on the First Emperor & so knew something of his history but this book goes into much greater detail about his life, the wider empire of China & the important figures in his life. Also detailing the events that led to the First Emperors birth & those following his death the book is not only a great source of information on the person of the First Emperor but also on the China of the period in general. The book also includes appendices on the portrayals of the First Emperor on film & TV, as well as family trees for the first Emperor & notes on names & titles of the period. Jonathan Clements does well to present the information in a well informed & easy to read manner that is accessible.
Excellent and easy to read book - By: D. J. L. Thomas, 19 Mar 2006 
Only half way through this book at the minute but will update review when finished.
Firstly the only real criticism I can come up with for this book & that is the photography’s of the emperor's works & walll hangings are in black & white. In this day photographs in hardback books should be in colour considering how much extra we pay for the hardback edition.
The pluses are many so far, the book is very well written, a lot of information is contained within an easy to read format. The author makes great judgements on his sources & isn’t afraid to let the read make up his own mind on his opinion. There is an almost stay to the next page feeling from this book, a feeling that going to bed without reading the next page will leave you with a bad nights sleep.
I can’t help but advise this book to anyone, have already advised my Grandmother on a purchase.
