A Dream of Red Mansions
Cao Xueqin & Gao E., transl. by Huang Xinqu. Abridged English Edition.
6" x 9", 298 pages, paperback. Arguably the greatest work of traditional
Chinese fiction. Many Western readers were daunted by the 120 chapter complete
version with 975 characters (persons), so working from the unexpurgated
Chinese edition, the author focused on the main characters and primary storyline,
making this new abridged English edition more accessible to a wider circle
of readers. Much of the novel is generally thought to be autobiographical,
although little is known about the actual life of the author. It is known,
however, that he lived in poverty. The work was published almost 30 years
after his death. |