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The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume Four: The Climax

by David Tod Roy, Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng
Compare to estimated retail price: S$90.79  

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The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume Four: The Climax
The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume Four: The Climax

Intimate exploration of human desire and corruption.

This volume takes a deep dive into the complexities of human character and social dynamics in a historical Chinese setting. It's a rich and intricate tale that unfolds with surprising intimacy, giving you a look into a world both exotic and familiar. If you're fascinated by the interplay of power, sexuality, and ambition, this book would draw you into its vividly painted universe.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume Four: The Climax

by David Tod Roy, Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng
Compare to estimated retail price: S$90.79  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780691150437
Authors: David Tod Roy, Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date of Publication: 2011-07-25
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Related Topics: Literature, Classics, Asian Literature
Goodreads rating: 4.4
(rated by 57 readers)

Description

This is the fourth and penultimate volume in David Roy's celebrated translation of one of the most famous and important novels in Chinese literature. The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei is an anonymous sixteenth-century work that focuses on the domestic life of Hsi-men Ch'ing, a corrupt, upwardly mobile merchant in a provincial town, who maintains a harem of six wives and concubines. The novel, known primarily for its erotic realism, is also a landmark in the development of the narrative art form—not only from a specifically Chinese perspective but in a world-historical context. Written during the second half of the sixteenth century and first published in 1618, The Plum in the Golden Vase is noted for its surprisingly modern technique. With the possible exception of The Tale of Genji (ca. 1010) and Don Quixote (1605, 1615), there is no earlier work of prose fiction of equal sophistication in world literature. Although its importance in the history of Chinese narrative has long been recognized, the technical virtuosity of the author, which is more reminiscent of the Dickens of Bleak House, the Joyce of Ulysses, or the Nabokov of Lolita than anything in earlier Chinese fiction, has not yet received adequate recognition. This is partly because all of the existing European translations are either abridged
 

Intimate exploration of human desire and corruption.

This volume takes a deep dive into the complexities of human character and social dynamics in a historical Chinese setting. It's a rich and intricate tale that unfolds with surprising intimacy, giving you a look into a world both exotic and familiar. If you're fascinated by the interplay of power, sexuality, and ambition, this book would draw you into its vividly painted universe.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.