The Story of the Stone, Volume IV: The Debt of Tears, Chapters 81-98 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780140443714)

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, The Story of the Stone 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.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Author: Cao Xueqin, Gao E
ISBN-10: 0140443711
ISBN-13: 9780140443714
Publisher: Penguin Group
Language: English
Published: 12/16/1982
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.69lbs
Size: 7.87h x 5.08w x 1.00d