A celebrated translation of this masterpiece of Chinese literature, in an updated edition
The celebrated English translation of this classic work of Chineseliterature is now available in an updated paperback edition. Written in 1598 by TangXianzu, The Peony Pavilion is one of literature's most memorable love stories and amasterpiece of Ming drama. Cyril Birch has captured all the elegance, lyricism, andsubtle, earthy humor of this panoramic tale of romance and Chinese society. WhenIndiana University Press first published the text in 1981, it seemed doubtful thatthe work would ever be performed in its entirety again, but several spectacular andcontroversial productions have toured the world in recent years. For this secondedition, which contains a fully revised text of the translation, Cyril Birch andCatherine Swatek reflect on contemporary performances of the play in light of itshistory.
