by Caleb Carr
First published 1992
In 1859, as the Taiping Rebellion rages, a young American named Frederick Townsend Ward arrives in China. Seeing an opportunity, Ward assembles a ragtag army of foreign mercenaries and Chinese soldiers. Against all odds, his "Ever Victorious Army" begins routing the rebel forces, earning them the fearsome moniker "Devil Soldiers." As Ward's legend grows, he must navigate the treacherous imperial court, forge alliances, and overcome his own doubts to become one of the most influential military leaders in Chinese history.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, action, 19th-century
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: based-on-true-events, fish-out-of-water
Setting: China
Period: Taiping Rebellion, 1850-1864, 1831-1862
366 pages · Hardcover · Random House