The first English translation of an erotic novel published in China in the 17th century, regarded as a notorious classic in Chinese literature, long banned in China. Shockingly explicit, it’s a story of betrayal, lust, revenge, and intrigue.
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Full of the kind of courtly exoticism you might expect from so long ago . . . a lot racier than anything you find in Shakespeare, who was writing at the same time.
—The Globe & Mail (The Globe & Mail )
One of the raciest pieces of writing ever to come out of 17th century China. . .
—Broken Pencil (Broken Pencil )
Hu's resurrection of this four-century-old classic benefits both gy literary studies and Chinese classical studies equally.
—Book Marks (Book Marks )
Bottom line: ancient, Asian, and arousing.
—On Our Backs (On Our Backs )
. . . shows that the late Ming dynasty was about way more than delicate vases and tea ceremonies.
—Maclean's Magazine (Maclean's )
—The Globe & Mail (The Globe & Mail )
One of the raciest pieces of writing ever to come out of 17th century China. . .
—Broken Pencil (Broken Pencil )
Hu's resurrection of this four-century-old classic benefits both gy literary studies and Chinese classical studies equally.
—Book Marks (Book Marks )
Bottom line: ancient, Asian, and arousing.
—On Our Backs (On Our Backs )
. . . shows that the late Ming dynasty was about way more than delicate vases and tea ceremonies.
—Maclean's Magazine (Maclean's )
About the Author
Lenny was a literary translator in China, translating Philip Roth's Goodbye, Columbus and numerous other American novels into Chinese before moving to Canada, where he received his PhD in Chinese literature. He lives in both Vancouver and Toronto.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just Normal Chinese History !,
This review is from: The Embroidered Couch (Paperback)
A delightful peek into life in the Late Ming Dynasty; almost anything went, or came. This is a book for serious research, joyful pleasure and good old-fashioned fun for everybody. Mature -- really mature -- themes, so it is not a gift for anyone until you have read it yourself. Guilty pleasures no more ... read this today.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Chinese spice,
By wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
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This review is from: The Embroidered Couch (Paperback)
This remarkable classic of Chinese literature dates back to the late Ming era, just over 400 years ago. Don't expect a proper Confucian allegory, though. This brief novel contains vivid descriptions of sexual play as explicit as anything on the bookshelves today.
It centers on Easterngate and his wife, Jin. After a tragic earlier marriage, Easterngate devotes himself to ensuring her physical pleasure in every way he can. So, when Jin sees Dali and falls for him, Easterngate arranges for her to take her pleasure with him. Since Dali has been Easterngate's catamite for many years, Easterngate can assure Jin of Dali's manly endowments and erotic eagerness. Jin tests that eagerness, riding herself so raw on him that she offers him rear entry so he can continue. Then, in the second chapter, Dali's widowed mother enters the mix and creates chances for loving between women as well as threesomes of various kinds, with many more vignettes than space allows. Then, in the last few pages, Heaven's retribution smites the sinners - a hasty afterthought to allow this to pass as a moralistic fable. Despite this book's age, the goings-on have a wholly modern feel to them, encompassing a wide range of adult activities. Although modern and readable, the translation seems never wholly to settle into one style. Its literary voice alternates with earthy crudities, but never fuses them into a single style. Still, this translation offers a unique look at another era and culture, and reminds modern readers that people are the same everywhere. Times and tastes change, but the human animal's urges and outlets do not. -- wiredweird
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