The Golden Lotus, Volume 1: Jin Ping Mei

A saga of ruthless ambition, murder, and lust, this classic novel—admired in its own time for its literary qualities and biting indictment of the immorality and cruelty of its age—lays bare the rivalries within a wealthy family while chronicling its rise and fall.

This edition features a new introduction by Robert Hegel of Washington University, and contains the complete text as translated by Clement Egerton with the assistance of Shu Qingchun, who as Lao She became one of the most prominent Chinese writers of the twentieth century.

"Anonymously authored under a pseudonym during the Ming dynasty, this masterpiece follows the ruthless rise of 28-year old merchant Ximen Qing in 12th-century China. As the saga opens, Ximen is the richest man in Qinghe with four wives and money that 'reaches higher than the North Star.' His fifth wife, Jinlian (whose name means 'Golden Lotus'), uses her feminine wiles and sexuality to manipulate her husband, as depicted in love scenes that prompted censorship of large swaths of the book. Despite Jinlian's best efforts to dominate the other wives, Ximen complicates their love life by bringing home a sixth wife who bears him an heir.  Lust, polygamy, bribery, and murder make this Chinese classic a page-turner. First published in 1618, previous translators watered down steamy bedroom scenes by rendering them in Latin. Egerton and Qingchun (the novelist Lao She), however, present this version entirely in English. Supplemental materials such as an alphabetical list of characters and Washington University Professor Robert Hegel's new introduction detailing the novel's historical context will prove invaluable to readers. (Oct.)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

A saga of ruthless ambition, murder, and lust, this classic novel—admired in its own time for its literary qualities and biting indictment of the immorality and cruelty of its age—lays bare the rivalries within a wealthy family while chronicling its rise and fall.

This edition features a new introduction by Robert Hegel of Washington University, and contains the complete text as translated by Clement Egerton with the assistance of Shu Qingchun, who as Lao She became one of the most prominent Chinese writers of the twentieth century.

Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng wrote The Golden Lotus during the early years of the Wanji era (1573—1620) of the Ming Empire.

Clement Egerton was at various times a senior officer in the British army, an Anglican bishop, and a writer, editor, linguist, and prolific photographer, but he is best known for his enduring translation of The Golden Lotus.

Shu Qungchun was a lecturer in Chinese at the School of Oriental Studies in London, but he became famous as the Beijing novelist and dramatist Lao She, whose best-known work is Rickshaw Boy. He died during the Cultural Revolution.