spy snatched yet another book from the Gloria-shelf ^__^ Thanks a lot for your leftovers, unknown reader with taste.

2010, sept 14:
hope I still can scratch together some words - it's a long time that I have read that book. Too bad that I gave It away now. Before writing a proper review, that is. Lazy me, it's a shame actually (maybe I can't live with it and will eventually write the stuff;)

gave it to a Japan addict. But had first to convince addict, that book contains genuine japaneseness :D

here the news from the "addict": I started reading it yesterday, got to where she had to leave the home....sticky reading......., If I cannot get around it, I shall bring it back.

ist im Stübchen eingetroffen, und zu behändigen.

Kommt mit ans facebookcrossers meetup im Cafe Gloria.

I even liked it more when I read it again. Aisin Gioro Xianyu, called Eastern Jewel, later re-named Yoshiko Kawashima through her step father Naniwa Kawashima, was a real person and one of the most fascinating figures of Sino-Japanese history. Born as a Quing princess, brought up in Japan, she served as a spy for the Japanese Kwantung Army during the Second World War. She even became Colonel General, formed an independent cavalry force (made up of 3,000-5,000 former bandits) to hunt down anti-Japanese guerilla bands during the Pacification of Manchukuo. In Japanese newspapers she was hailed as the „Joan of Arc of Manchukuo“. This part lacks in the book; but well, it's called The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel, not The Political Career of a Manchu Princess, The Cross-Dressing Spy or some such. Hence it's all about her thoughts and dreams and inner world - and fictional. Yoshiko alas didn't leave any biographical notes, except a few letters, sent to and kept by her friends.

Although a work of fiction, most of the described events really happened. Yoshiko was indeed raped by her step-grandfather and by her step-father. She had to marry the son of a Mongolian Army General for political reasons and divorced him after two years. In the Thirties, she was already a living legend, not least for her cross-dressing, her bohemian life style and her countless love affairs. The spoilt princess was a true material girl, indulged herself in buying exquisite clothes, jewels and by visiting (and throwing) high society-parties. But, being born into a luxurious palace with hundreds of servants, you hardly can blame her.

The author did a fine job in describing her sexual adventures. I was for once not annoyed to read about copulation, it didn't feel out of place, as it seemingly played a major part in Yoshiko's short life. After her rapes as a teenager, she quickly detected the power of her sexual attraction. And she planned to use it.
I was a bit appalled when I looked up Tanaka and Doihara, two of the influential officers of Japan's secret service with whom she slept. They were rather fat and ugly - in opposite of her husband prince Ganjuurjab who actually had a youthful handsomeness.

One might see a cruel facet in her, arrogance or carelessness. Lindley saw a sensitive woman who in spite of her beauty, her cunning and her courage, never stood a chance against the male superiority which was still firmly anchored in East Asia's society. In spite of her demonstrated liberty and equality, she was just a pawn in the hands of Japan's secret service - and was deserted by all her lovers in the end.

The princess travels on ... by bicycle!

The princess is still a little bit wet...

manuma wants to read it again (that is, she didn't the last time ...)

Goodness, It came back to me...Now I MUST give it a go...wish me luck. ;-), manuma

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