Books by Cao Xueqin

The Dream of the Red Chamber is one of the "e;Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese Literature."e; It is renowned for its huge scope, large cast of characters and telling observations on the life and social structures of 18th century China and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the classical Chinese novel.The "e;Red Chamber"e; is an expression used to describe the sheltered area where the daughters of wealthy Chinese families lived. Believed to be based on the author's own life and intended as a memorial to the women that he knew in his youth, The Dream of the Red Chamber is a multilayered story that offers up key insights into Chinese culture."e;Henry Bencraft Joly's attention to detail and the faithfulness in his translation of Hong Lou Meng makes this revised edition of The Dream of the Red Chamber an excellent book for the student of modern Chinese."e; Edwin H. Lowe, from his introduction"e;this partial version certainly deserves a wider readership, as a brave early skirmish on the outer ramparts of this masterpiece. The re-issuing of Joly's work will undoubtedly provide a rich crop of fascinating raw material for the growing community of Translation Studies scholars."e; John Minford, from his foreword

For generations, the Jia family is held in high esteem but when they lose favor with the emperor, their luxury lifestyle comes to an end. The Story of the Stone focuses on internal and external conflicts that arise as they adjust to their unexpected plight.Jia Baoyu is heir to a prestigious family, that¿s held multiple imperial titles throughout the years. Despite their history and social standing, they are targeted by the emperor who strips them of their land and personal fortune. As the family¿s wealth wanes, the young Jia struggles with his affection for his cousin Lin Daiyu, as he¿s already engaged to Xue Baochai. It¿s a compelling romance drama set against the family¿s economic decline.Revered for centuries, The Story of the Stone is one of the Four Classic Novels in Chinese literature. It¿s a depiction of pre-modern times that is both bleak and illuminating. Cao Xueqin delivers a piercing commentary on the duplicity of the social and political structure.With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Story of the Stone is both modern and readable.

A novel of Chinese literature that contains the tale of Bao-yu, a gentle young boy who prefers girls to Confucian studies, and his two cousins: Bao-chai, his parents' choice of a wife for him, and the ethereal beauty Dai-yu.