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Zusatztext “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’s The 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 be rewarded every bit of attention you give it! many times over.” — SupChina! “The 100 China Books You Have to Read! Ranked” (#1) Informationen zum Autor Cao Xueqin (?1715-63) was born into a family which for three generations held the office of Commissioner of Imperial Textiles in Nanking, a family so wealthy they were able to entertain the Emperor four times. However, calamity overtook them and their property was consfiscated. Cao Xueqin was living in poverty when he wrote his famous novel The Story of the Stone. Klappentext "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'. Zusammenfassung Tells 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. Inhaltsverzeichnis Note on Spelling Preface Chapter 27 Beauty Perspiring sports with butterflies by the Raindrop Pavilion; And Beauty Suspiring weeps for fallen blossoms by the Flowers' Grave Chapter 28 A Crimson cummerbund becomes a pledge of friendship; And a chaplet of medicine-beads becomes a source of embarassment Chapter 29 In which the greatly blessed pray for yet greater blessings; And the highly strung rise to new heights of passion Chapter 30 Bao-Chai speaks of a fan and castigates her deriders; Charmante scratches a 'qiang' and mystifies a beholder Chapter 31 A torn fan is the price of silver laughter; And a lost kylin is the clue to a happy marriage Chapter 32 Bao-yu demonstrates confusion of mind by his declaration to the wrong person; And Golden shows an unconquerable spirit by ending her humiliation in death Chapter 33 An envious younger brother puts in a malicious word or two; And a scapegrace elder brother recieves a terrible chatisement Chapter 34 A wordless message meets with silent understanding; And a groundless imputation leads to undeserved rebukes Chapter 35 Sulky Silver tastes some lotus-leaf soup; And Golden Oriole knots a flower-patterned fringe Chapter 36 Bao-chai visits Green Delights and bears strange words from a sleeper; And Bao-yu visits Pear-tree Court and learns hard facts from a performer Chapter 37 A happy inspiration prompts Tan-chun to found the Crab-flower Club; And an ingenious arrangment enables Bao-chai to settle the chysanthemum poem titles Chapter 38 River Queen triumphs in her treatment of chysanthemum themes; And Lady Allspice is satirical on the subject of crabs An inventive old countrywoman tells a story of somewhat questionable veraci...
