The Peony Pavilion, Second Edition: Mudan Ting

by Tang Xianzu

Book Overview

The celebrated English translation of this classic work of Chinese literature is now available in an updated paperback edition. Written in 1598 by Tang Xianzu, The Peony Pavilion is one of literature's most memorable love stories and a masterpiece of Ming drama. Cyril Birch has captured all the elegance, lyricism, and subtle, earthy humor of this panoramic tale of romance and Chinese society. When Indiana University Press first published the text...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253215277
• ISBN13: 9780253215277
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

a delightful love story with lots of action

I am not familiar with Chinese literature and this was a wonderful introduction. As just a "read", this had all the action, love and suspense that one could want. It is a very readable translation, and once into the story it became very difficult to set it down. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a delightful story well told.

Masterpiece by Chinese "Shakespeare"

This play was written the same year (1598) Shakespeare wrote "Henry IV, Part II" & "Much Ado About Nothing." IMHO it's comparable - so it's very, very good indeed. It combines a highly poetic love story with the drama of war & considerable comedy. The translation & footnotes make it more accessible than most of Shakespeare, while providing considerable insight into medieval Chinese literature, legend, poetry, & customs. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it & would love to see it performed. Of course, it's not for everyone, but if you like Shakespeare, Marlowe, et al, give this one a try. You might like it even better.

Great Play, Brilliant Translation

Tang Xiansu was a contemporary of Shakespeare (and Cervantes!). His masterpiece, _The Peony Pavilion_, a musical drama in the Kunqu style, is Shakespearean in its literary quality--as translated by Cyril Birch--and super-Shakespearean in its length and scope. Its 55 scenes, playing 20 hours, include all of Shakespeare's genres: romance, history, comedy, tragedy, lyric poetry. A magnificent work and vital theatre as done complete in New York in 1999. Birch's brief intro helps you get into the piece; his short book, "Scenes for Mandarins: The Elite Theater of the Ming" (Columbia University Press), tells more and also introduces other playwrights and plays in his elegant translations.

Great Book

I love this book. It's so romantic and it has a lot of suspense in it.