Gladys Yang Libri

Excerpts from 3 classical Chinese novels:Three Kingdoms, Pilgrimage to the West, Flowers in the mirror.

One of the great classic Chinese novels, " The Scholars" departs from the impersonal tradition of Chinese fiction, as the author makes significant use of autobiographical experience and models many characters on friends and relatives.

In this book are the representative elegies of the State of Chu.

"These stories written during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) form a notable part of early Chinese fiction. Indeed, in importance they are comparable to Tang poetry. The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty with its rapid development of agriculture, handicrafts and commerce supplied a rich material basis for the complex social life which was the background to these stories. Since the authors were consciously writing fiction, they produced something more imaginative than the earlier Chinese tales of the supernatural or anecdotes of famous men. The middle period of the Tang Dynasty - the eighth century and early nineth century - was the hay-day of this form of literature. This collection includes some of the best stories of this period." -- Back cover

Bilingual in English and Chinese. Guan Hanqing, the Yuan Dynasty dramatist is sometimes referred to as "China's Shakespeare." A playwright of the Northern Drama, Guan Hanqing (1240-1360), worked in Beijing at a time the capital was known as Dadu, an international city visited by many travelers from Europe, including Marco Polo. Guan is credited with more than 64 plays, of which some 15 have survived in complete form. Like Shakespeare, Guan's biographical information is sketchy, but he also is said to have been a theatrical manager and an actor. This is a collection of four of his most well known plays: Snow in Midsummer, The Wife-Snatcher, The Butterfly Dream and Rescued by a Coquette. You will not only enjoy these classic stories, but will also learn about Chinese culture and history. The translation of each English page is printed in Chinese on the opposite page.

Also known as Hong Lou Meng, this work is considered China's greatest literary masterpiece, chronicling a noble family's life in the eighteenth century. Amidst the splendor of enchanting gardens and pleasure pavilions lies a deeper narrative of decay and self-destruction. The author, Cao Xueqin (1715? - 1763?), originally named Zhan, adopted the style name Mengruan. He was also known as Xueqin, Qinpu, or Qinxi. His family hailed from what is now Liaoyang City in Northeast China and had been integrated into the Manchu Right White Banner. For around 60 years, his ancestors held the position of Textile Commissioner in Jiangning (modern-day Nanjing). Cao Xueqin's great grandmother was a nursemaid to the future Kangxi emperor, who later honored the family. However, after the Yongzhen emperor's ascension, Cao Xueqin's father, Cao Fu, faced disgrace and the family's fortunes dwindled, leading them to Beijing. Once accustomed to luxury, Cao Xueqin experienced poverty firsthand, ultimately living in a modest hovel on the outskirts of the capital. The death of his young son in 1762 profoundly affected him, and he never fully recovered. He passed away on February 12, 1763.