The Great Famine in China, 1958-1962: A Documentary History

The Bo Xilai Scandal: Power, Death, and Politics in China greatly expands and brings up to date an extraordinary narrative first published in the FT Weekend magazine this summer.

That the high-flying politician's demise should have been triggered by his glamorous wife's murder of a British businessman, as revealed in the most serious defection attempt in the Communist party's history, makes for a ripping yarn. But the story's high political drama also has profound implications for Asia's biggest economy, and hence for the whole world. Apart from exploding any illusion that authoritarian China has managed to institutionalise a smooth succession mechanism, the scandal exposed vicious infighting and corruption that threaten to corrode the Communist party's legitimacy in the eyes of its people.

Jamil Anderlini, the Financial Times' bureau chief in Beijing, weaves together lurid detail and thoughtful political context to provide a gripping account of the rise and fall of Bo Xilai.

The Financial Times is one of the world's leading business news and information organisations, providing a broad range of services to the growing audience of internationally minded business people.

On Christmas morning in the year 800, Pope Leo III placed the crown of imperial Rome on the brow of a Germanic king named Karl. With one gesture, the man later hailed as Charlemagne claimed his empire and forever shaped the destiny of Europe. Becoming Charlemagne tells the story of the international power struggle that led to this world-changing event.

Illuminating an era that has long been overshadowed by legend, this far-ranging book shows how the Frankish king and his wise counselors built an empire not only through warfare but also by careful diplomacy. With consummate political skill, Charlemagne partnered with a scandal-ridden pope, fended off a ruthless Byzantine empress, nurtured Jewish communities in his empire, and fostered ties with a famous Islamic caliph. For 1,200 years, the deeds of Charlemagne captured the imagination of his descendants, inspiring kings and crusaders, the conquests of Napoléon and Hitler, and the optimistic architects of the European Union.

In this engaging narrative, Jeff Sypeck crafts a vivid portrait of Karl, the ruler who became a legend, while transporting readers far beyond Europe to the glittering palaces of Constantinople and the streets of medieval Baghdad. Evoking a long-ago world of kings, caliphs, merchants, and monks, Becoming Charlemagne brings alive an age of empire building that continues to resonate today.