In Treason by the Book, acclaimed historian Jonathan Spence brings to life a gripping true story from 18th-century China, revealing the intricate dance between loyalty, dissent, and imperial power. Set in the Qing dynasty under Emperor Yongzheng, the narrative unfolds around a seemingly minor case of sedition—a scholar's letter expressing opposition to the emperor's rule.

What follows is a fascinating chain of interrogations, confessions, and imperial correspondence, as the emperor personally oversees the investigation and seeks to assert control through the written word. With the precision of a historian and the storytelling prowess of a novelist, Spence reveals how language, ideology, and fear were wielded as tools of governance.

A study of authoritarian power and the fragile line between thought and treason, Treason by the Book offers a chillingly relevant reflection on state control, loyalty, and the fate of dissenters in any age.