The Story of the Stone (c. 1760),also known as The Dream of the Red Chamber,is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqin's magnificent saga,The Dreamer Awakes,was carefully edited and completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty,focussing on Bao-yu,now married to Bao-chai,after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death,financial ruin,marriage,decadence and corruption,his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life,Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision,which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream,'as moonlight mirrored in the water'.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: Penguin Books LtdISBN: 9780140443721Number of pages: 384Weight: 281 gDimensions: 198 x 129 x 22 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
"Filled with classical allusions,multilayered wordplay,and delightful poetry,Cao's novel is a testament to what Chinese literature was capable of. Readers of English are fortunate to have David Hawkes and John Minford'sThe Story of the Stone,which distills a lifetime of scholarship and reading into what is probably the finest work of Chinese-to-English literary translation yet produced. You will berewarded every bit of attention you give it,many times over."-SupChina, "The 100 China Books You Have to Read,Ranked"(#1)
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