1st American edition (in English) of the all-time best selling Chinese novel. The book is considered of such importance in the literary heritage of China that an entire field of study, "Redology", is devoted to it. The book circulated in manuscript form under various titles until it was issued in printed form (with the addition of forty chapters) in 1791-92. It tells the story of members of a two large and powerful families-sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins-lived together and how graciously, despite sorrows and misfortunes, their lives glided into years, in caring for the sick, burying thedead, honoring traditions, maintaining their loyalties, laughing a little and laughing much. A classic of Chinese literature, written in the mid-18th century during the Qing Dynasty. Translated form the Chinese by Chi-Chen Wang. A tight, generally fine copy, In the original color illustrated dust jacket, price clipped and with modest rubbing to the folds and shallow wear to the spine extremities.
Hardcover in wooden veneer covered boards decorated in red, over red cloth spine stamped in gilt.
First edition (stated) of the first edition in English translation. CONTACT SHIROBOOKS PRIOR TO ORDERING if any questions or for more information, details or photos. ShiroBooks, independent bookseller, takes pride in accurate descriptions, careful wrapping and safe shipping.
Only front panel and unclipped flaps (reflecting original USD $3 price) survive, with DJ reconstructed, preserved and encased in protective mylar lettering and artwork of surviving parts are bright and crisp. Cover is clean and bright, with some age fading along the spine (lettering still legible, design still fairly clear), mild chipping along the otherwise straight edges, sharp, mildly rubbed and chipped corners, gently bumped and rubbed joints, headcap and tail, straight hinges and spine, and crisply distinct front board artwork. Book is straight, square, securely bound (although gauze is beginning to show, with 1" separation at top along gutter of half-title), mildly and uniformly age toned, and, except for prior bookshop's small sticker discreetly pasted at bottom of rear pastedown and residual impression of now-removed paper clip on rear endpapers, is otherwise free of markings and blemishes. 1st Printing of the 1929 Doubleday stated 1sts Edition thus, translated and adapted from the Chinese by Chi-Chen Wang and with preface by Arthur Waley.
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