The First Emperor

The short-lived Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BC and created an imperial legacy that lasted until 1911. The extraordinary story of the First Emperor, founder of the dynasty, is told in the Historical Records of Sima Qian, the Grand Historiographer and the most famous Chinese historian. He describes the Emperors birth and the assassination attempt on his life, as well as the political and often brutal events that led to the founding of the dynasty and its aftermath. Sima Qian recounts the building of the Great Wall, the burning of the books, and the construction of the First Emperors magnificent tomb, a tomb now world famous since the discovery of the terracotta warriors in 1974. Sima Qians love of anecdote ensures that his history is never dull, and Raymond Dawsons fluent translation captures his lively and vivid style. Chronicling recent archaeological developments and questioning Sima Qians biases, K. E. Brashiers preface highlights the importance of the Grand Historiographers account and Dawsons translation in the twenty-first century.