Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: The Golden Lotus Vol II Author: Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng, Clement Egerton, Shu Qingchun ISBN: 978-0-8048-4171-9 Publisher: Tuttle Part of a Series: The Golden Lotus Vol I was the "prequel" This one covers chapters 54-100 Type of book: 1100s, Forbidden book, death, despicable deeds, bribing, finances, affairs, falling into place, China, reparations, revenge, loyalty, surprising heroes and heroines, women as main characters, officials, greed, second chances, lust, sloth, Year it was published: 2011 (1300s) Summary: The Golden Lotus (Jin Ping Mei) has been called the fifth greatest work in all of Chinese literature and one of the Four Masterworks of the Ming novel. Anonymously written, it was admired in its own time for its literary qualities and biting indictment of the immorality and cruelty of its age. Yet it has also been denigrated as a dirty book for its sexual frankness. It centers on Ximen Qing, a wealthy, young, dissolute merchant, and ...

Name of Book: The Taiheiki A Chronicle of Medieval Japan Author: Anonymous (Helen McCullough translated) ISBN: 978-0-8048-3538-1 Publisher: Tuttle Type of book: Japan, samurai, fights, origins of customs, loyalty, record, historical record, 1300s, suicide, murders, wars Year it was published: 1956 was published in 1300s originally (2004) Summary: An epic saga of samurai warfare in medieval Japan This celebrated literary classic has delighted generations of Japanese. In its pages, you will find a vivid contemporary description of the fourteenth-century intrigues and battles that led to the destruction of the Hojo family, the military overlords of the nation, and made it possible for the Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339), one of Japan's most remarkable sovereigns, to reassert the power of the throne. Go-Daigo's first hesitant attempts to overthrow the Hojo, the early defeats suffered by his supporters, his dethronement and exile, the legendary exploits of his ...

Name of Book: The Three Kingdoms Vol III: Welcome the Tiger Author: Luo Guanzhong, translation by Yu Sumei and Ronald C Iverson ISBN: 978-0-8048-4395-9 Publisher: Tuttle Part of a Series: The Three Kingdoms; this is the conclusion to Volumes I and II and has chapters 75-120 Type of book: Wars, China, 219-260? conquer, Three Kingdoms of Wu, Wei and Shu, political manipulations, successors, rulers, the ultimate winner Year it was published: 1300s (this translation in 2014) Summary: This exciting new translation with footnotes will appeal to modern readers who find the twists and turns of Game of Thrones so compelling. The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty, when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population were either killed or driven from their homes. Part myth, part fact, readers will experience the loyalty an...

Name of Book: The Three Kingdoms Vol II: The Sleeping Dragon Author: Luo Guanzhong ISBN: 978-0-8048-4394-2 Publisher: Tuttle Part of a Series: The Three Kingdoms; this is a "sequel" to The Sacred Oath and covers chapters 36-74, while the next "sequel" is conclusion Type of book: Battles, strategies, wars, political relationships, 191?-219? , intelligence, control, China, Chinese classic, historical fiction, China divided Year it was published: 1300s (2014 with translation) Summary: This exciting new translation with footnotes will appeal to modern readers who find the twists and turns of Game of Thrones so compelling. The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty, when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population were either killed or driven from their homes. Part myth, part fact, readers will exp...

Name of Book: The Three Kingdoms Volume I: The Sacred Oath Author: Luo Guanzhong, (Yu Sumei and Ronald C Iverson are translator and editor) ISBN: 978-0-8048-4393-5 Publisher: Tuttle Part of a Series: The Three Kingdoms, divided into three volumes Type of book: China, 169? (189)-200s? wars, historical fiction, the three kingdoms, Wu, Wei and Shu, anthology, Chinese classic, poetry, mysticism, Yellow Turban Rebellion, strategies, plotting Year it was published: Originally 1300s, but this translation in 2014 Summary: This exciting new translation will appeal to modern readers who find the twists and turns of Game of Thrones so compelling. The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty, when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population were either killed or driven from their homes. Part myth, part fact, readers will exper...