The character list at the beginning of each chapter of this book suggests a theatrical approach, even if it's meant to be ironic. The world, after all, is a play, and we all have a part, especially those among us who happen to be emperors. No matter who's directing it, the actors or the public, history has always been a treasure trove for engaging drama, even if some of the main characters happen to complain of boredom. But as far as engaging storytelling goes, the author manages to transcend theater because at times, especially in the beginning and the end, his narration turns cinematic, frantically skipping from location to location, adding cutouts full of ricocheting bullets, eye twitches, and hair flicks. And he manages to do all this without turning this book into a novel, which is downright amazing. It's definitely one of the most well-written historical books I've read.