Beyond Spring [Hardcover]

Julie Landau (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1994 | ISBN-10: 023109678X | ISBN-13: 978-0231096782 0

This anthology of poetry from the Sung Dynasty, translated into English, represents the golden age of the Tz'u period in the 10th-12th centuries AD. These translations of an important lyric form in Chinese literature strive to capture the phrasing and rhythms crucial to Tz'u. Organized by individual poets, the collection includes an introduction to symbols and allusions which enables the reader to discover references in specific poems. The text also contains biographies of the Chinese poets, a glossary of terms, and an historical chart of Chinese poetic genres.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?At first glance, Beyond Spring is an erudite and esoteric collection of Chinese poetry written over 1000 years ago. It has a substantial introduction to the origins of t'zu with brief biographies of the poets, a list of alternate texts, and an explanation of illustrations. But after one begins reading Landau's remarkable translations, one hears the echoes of modern-day lyrics and realizes that these selections are accessible and relevant to young people. "When first I saw her/To the ring of the melody's opening bars/She came dancing, waist spinning red confusion." "You take my hands?I see your tears through mine/Words, futile catch in my throat." The emotions of love and heartbreak are radiantly expressed. This anthology will not be sought out by YAs, but with some recommendations from a good librarian, it will win a following.?Beth Gourley, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This is a beautiful and useful book of translations by Julie Landau of 150 Chinese lyric poems (tz'u) from the Sung dynasty (960-1279).

(Harvard Review )

As many readers will surely be, I am very grateful for Beyond Spring, which gives me an ancient poetry of which I had known nothing. Julie Landau's translations are exquisite, conveying these old poems with fresh poignancy, with clarity of image, and with a truly evoked 'essence beyond the image.'

(Richard Wilbur ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 023109678X
• ISBN-13: 978-0231096782
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,404,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compilation to Keep!, July 6, 2005

By 

John Fiske (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond Spring: T'Zu Poems of the Sung Dynasty (Paperback)

A splendid book! After ten years of regular reading, and thumb marks on every page, these poems still catch my breath with their beauty and sorrow. As a lay reader (not a scholar) the poems are completely accessible, and beautifully evoke the human essence of an age in China which we otherwise would ever know. If the poems have a unifying theme, it might be the bittersweet pain of longing and separation - but the varicolored mix of imagery and beautiful choice of words by Julie Landau give each of them a unique flair, sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, always intriguing. This is my favorite book of poetry. Julie - another volume would be a gift to us all!