In transliterating the sounds of the Chinese language into English I have used where I can the modern Chinese Pinyin system rather than the Wade Giles spelling that would have been current in 1900.For well-known place names and historical personages, however,I have used the spelling that would have been current at the time.
China, 1899. A weakened Dynasty watches helplessly as western powers encroach on its land. But driven by drought and hunger, a secret society is preaching rebellion.Unaware of the forces broiling around her, a young English girl arrives in the city of Shishan. Life is picnics and tiger hunts for the foreigners, but for Helen Frances there are other, more dangerous delights.For the Boxers are massing secretly in the forests and hills.Soon Helen Frances and the other westerners will find themselves in enormous peril.