The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army
Phyllis Birnbaum
Named one of the 15 best books of the year by the Women in the World Blog at the New York Times
"Birnbaum presents a colorful portrait of the controversial figure as she participated in conflicts that transformed East Asia."-Publishers Weekly
Kawashima Yoshiko (born Aisin Gioro Xianyu, 1907-1948) was the daughter of a Manchu prince. After the fall of the Manchu dynasty, she was raised by a Japanese friend of her father to restore the Manchus to their former glory. Her dedication to this cause, including supporting the puppet state established by the Japanese in 1932, ultimately got her executed for treason after Japan's defeat. The truth of Yoshiko's life is still a source of contention between China and Japan. This biography presents the richest and most accurate portrait to date of the controversial princess spy.
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Asia Perspectives: History, Society, and Culture
$24.00 $16.80 | Paper | 272 pages | £20.00
