Chinese fairy tales
29.99 €
In stock
Chinese fairy tales
29.99 €
The renowned Chinese writer Pu Songling (1640–1715) was born in the Great Ming Empire, in the richly historical province of Shandong. His father came from a noble family, but after losing his entire fortune, he was forced into trade. Songling received a classical education, but failed the exam for entry into government service. The young man then began to earn a living by giving private lessons. At the same time, Pu Songling immersed himself deeply in literature. During his lifetime, he wrote over a thousand poems, numerous romances and essays, and several plays. His "Strange Stories from the Cabinet of a Failure," known in China as "Liao Zhai Zhi Yi," brought him immortal fame. They are a collection of stories based on folk beliefs about mysterious werefoxes, evil demons and benevolent spirits, powerful sorcerers, and fearsome gods. Pu Songling's elegant texts are full of allegories and subtle humor; his stories intertwine ancient superstitions with topical satire. After Pu Songling's death, the manuscripts of his works remained in the writer's family for many years. The texts of "Strange Stories" were first published only half a century after his death, in 1766. Today, his stories are widely read both in China and abroad; they are translated into various languages. Pu Songling's works have become a treasure trove of Chinese literature.
This edition presents Pu Songling's "Strange Stories from the Cabinet of a Loser" in translations by the renowned Soviet sinologist, Doctor of Philology, and member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Vasily Mikhailovich Alekseev (1881–1951). In 1902, Vasily Mikhailovich graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Languages at St. Petersburg University. He dedicated his career to the Chinese language and the study of Chinese history and literature. Alekseev lectured at leading educational institutions, contributed to the compilation of an academic Chinese-Russian dictionary, and translated works by Chinese writers. His work introduced Russian-speaking readers to the works of more than two hundred authors considered classics of Chinese literature. In the first half of the 20th century, Pu Songling's stories, translated by V. M. Alekseev, were published in thematic collections "Fox Charms" (1922), "Monks-Magicians" (1923), "Strange Stories" (1928), and "Stories about Extraordinary People" (1937). Each edition was accompanied by a detailed preface and extensive commentary. In this book, the beauty of Pu Songling's stories is enhanced by the marvelous color illustrations by Anastasia Iv (1991).
This edition presents Pu Songling's "Strange Stories from the Cabinet of a Loser" in translations by the renowned Soviet sinologist, Doctor of Philology, and member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Vasily Mikhailovich Alekseev (1881–1951). In 1902, Vasily Mikhailovich graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Languages at St. Petersburg University. He dedicated his career to the Chinese language and the study of Chinese history and literature. Alekseev lectured at leading educational institutions, contributed to the compilation of an academic Chinese-Russian dictionary, and translated works by Chinese writers. His work introduced Russian-speaking readers to the works of more than two hundred authors considered classics of Chinese literature. In the first half of the 20th century, Pu Songling's stories, translated by V. M. Alekseev, were published in thematic collections "Fox Charms" (1922), "Monks-Magicians" (1923), "Strange Stories" (1928), and "Stories about Extraordinary People" (1937). Each edition was accompanied by a detailed preface and extensive commentary. In this book, the beauty of Pu Songling's stories is enhanced by the marvelous color illustrations by Anastasia Iv (1991).
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Library of World Literature