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Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty Paperback – April 15, 1995
| Qian Sima (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
| Price | New from | Used from |
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- Print length224 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherColumbia University Press
- Publication dateApril 15, 1995
- Dimensions8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
- ISBN-100231081693
- ISBN-13978-0231081696
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Product details
- Publisher : Columbia University Press; 3rd edition (April 15, 1995)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 224 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0231081693
- ISBN-13 : 978-0231081696
- Item Weight : 13.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #224,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #40 in Central Asia History
- #83 in General Broadcasting (Books)
- #245 in Research Reference Books
- Customer Reviews:
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How can anyone understand China without this book?
I bought this book thinking it was the Asian equivalent of Suetonius's Twelve Caesars or Herodotus' Histories, but it reads more like an eastern version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles; pages of very dry entries along the lines of "...in the twelfth year, Lord Shu of Wu declared war on Lord Wu of Shu..." and the like (compare and contrast with "..in the twelfth year, King Engelbert of Essex declared war on King Dagobert of Sussex ..."). My initial impression was either Sima Qian wasn't as good of a writer as everyone said he was, or Burton murdered the translation. Then I read the appendix with the letter Sima Quan wrote from prison and I revised upward my opinion of both men. The problem must be Sima Quian was writing an official state history while Suetonius and Herodotus weren't. Considering what the Emperor did to Sima Qian just because he disagreed with him on a policy matter, I shudder to think what would happen if he wrote something that really offended the Emperor.
The only other problem I have with the book is it is over priced. Maybe I am spoiled by too many Penguin Classics, but I think $37 for the whole 3 book series would be more fair rather than for just on volume.
Top reviews from other countries
Evidentemente si no sabes leer chino no queda otra, pero es muy caro.
HAy algunos ejemplares de segunda mano en ebay enviados de EEUU, pero a los europeos apenas nos supone 5 euros de ahorro contando gastos y aranceles... El que tenga paciencia que espere a que aparezca alguno en UK... suerte.

