Tzu Hsi, royal
Nov. 29, 1835-Nov. 15, 1908
Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 2000)
Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi ruled her country for 47 years. It was said that she loved to read.
Fordham University posts information about the Court Life in China.