Puyi published 1 novel and 2 non-fiction books, beginning with The First Half of My Life (1960). The best-known is From Emperor to Citizen (1964).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Puyi
Start here
From Emperor to Citizen
Puyi's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The First Half of My Life (1960)
Non-fiction in order
From Emperor to Citizen (1964)
The Last Manchu (1987)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Last Emperor (1987)Film · from The First Half of My Life
About Puyi
Puyi was the last emperor of China, having reigned as the Xuantong Emperor of the Qing dynasty and later as the Kangde Emperor of Manchukuo, a Japanese puppet state during World War II. After the war, he was held as a war criminal in the Soviet Union and China until 1959, when the Chinese Communist Party granted him amnesty and presented him as a model of successful reeducation.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Puyi FAQ
- How many books has Puyi written?
- Puyi published 1 novel and 2 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Puyi's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with From Emperor to Citizen.
- What is Puyi's last book?
- From Emperor to Citizen (1964).
- What is Puyi's most famous book?
- From Emperor to Citizen (1964) is Puyi's most widely read book.
- Which Puyi books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The First Half of My Life (as The Last Emperor, film, 1987).
Authors like Puyi
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.