Franciscus Verellen is Emeritus Professor and former Director of the École française d'Extrême-Orient.

'A powerful account of the collapse of a once-great empire through the life of a statesman-general who fought, in vain, to save it. Employing both historical and literary scholarship, Verellen masterfully reconstructs a complex and fascinating figure long buried under sediments of posthumous slander and caricature.' Shao-yun Yang, Denison University

• Introduction: China on the eve of the Five Dynasties; 1. War and poetry; 2. The Northwestern frontier; 3. The Southern Man; 4. Protector of Annan; 5. Celestial Peace; 6. Grace and Might; 7. Brocade Fortress; 8. The gathering storm; 9. Stone Quarry; 10. From Cassia Grove; 11. Lord of Huai; 12. The widow's curse; Postscript; Poems of Gao Pian (PGP); Appendix A. Pei Xing's 'Path of Heavenly Might' inscription; B. Ch'oe Ch'iwŏn and his writings; C. Luo Yin's pamphlet Bewitched in Guangling; D. The official narrative; Glossary of titles and institutions; Works cited; Index.