The Story of the Stone

The Debt of Tears

Cao Xueqin, John Minford, John Minford , Kao E

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Chinese

Penguin Classics
30 March 2006

Literature, Poetry & Criticism; Classic fiction (pre c 1945); Fiction in translation

Series: The Story of the Stone

The Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. Divided into five volumes, of which The Debt of Tears is the fourth, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). The two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humour, realistic detail and delicate poetry, which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence - a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things.

By: Cao Xueqin
Edited by: John Minford
Translated by: John Minford
Volume editor: Kao E
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 4th Revised edition
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 21mm
Weight: 297g
ISBN: 9780140443714
ISBN 10: 0140443711
Series: The Story of the Stone
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 30 March 2006
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Cao Xueqin (?1715-63) was born into a family which for three generations held the office of Commissioner of Imperial Textiles in Nanking, a family so wealthy they were able to entertain the Emperor four times. However, calamity overtook them and their property was consfiscated. Cao Xueqin was living in poverty when he wrote his famous novel The Story of the Stone.

Reviews for The Story of the Stone: The Debt of Tears

Filled with classical allusions, multilayered wordplay, and delightful poetry, Cao's novel is a testament to what Chinese literature was capable of. Readers of English are fortunate to have David Hawkes and John Minford's The Story of the Stone, which distills a lifetime of scholarship and reading into what is probably the finest work of Chinese-to-English literary translation yet produced. You will be rewarded every bit of attention you give it, many times over. -SupChina, The 100 China Books You Have to Read, Ranked (#1)