Reginald Johnston published 4 non-fiction books, beginning with Lion and Dragon in Northern China (1910). The best-known is Twilight in the Forbidden City (1934).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Reginald Johnston
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Twilight in the Forbidden City
Reginald Johnston's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Buddhist China (1913)
Confucianism and Modern China (1934)
Twilight in the Forbidden City (1934)
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About Reginald Johnston
Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston was a Scottish diplomat and colonial official who served as the tutor and advisor to Puyi, the last emperor of China. He was also the last British Commissioner of Weihaiwei. Johnston's book Twilight in the Forbidden City (1934) was used as a source for Bernardo Bertolucci's film dramatization of Puyi's life, The Last Emperor.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Reginald Johnston FAQ
- How many books has Reginald Johnston written?
- Reginald Johnston published 4 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Reginald Johnston's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Twilight in the Forbidden City.
- What is Reginald Johnston's last book?
- Twilight in the Forbidden City (1934).
- What is Reginald Johnston's most famous book?
- Twilight in the Forbidden City (1934) is Reginald Johnston's most widely read book.
- Can I read Reginald Johnston's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by Reginald Johnston are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Reginald Johnston
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.