The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu by Tang Xianzu

The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu by Tang Xianzu

Tang Xianzu (1550–1616) is acclaimed as the ‘Shakespeare of the East’ and widely regarded as China’s greatest playwright, yet his work has not reached Western readers in its entirety. The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu represents a literary landmark: this is the first English-language collection of the revered dramatist’s most important works to be made available outside China. Translated over two decades, the collection showcases the playwright’s major pieces, including The Purple Flute, The Purple Hairpins, The Nanke Dream, The Handan Dream – and The Peony Pavilion. The Peony Pavilion is the playwright’s most celebrated work and has drawn comparisons to Homer’s Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, Dante’s Divine Comedy and John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Known for his lyrical use of metaphor, Tang Xianzu weaves the beauty of nature with the tragedy of emotion. His plays offer an extensive exploration of love, and remain at the heart of Chinese culture. This important collection represents an opportunity for a wider audience to discover the profound and poetic works of this classic playwright.

Shakespeare of the East -- President Xi Jinping
[Tang Xianzu’s] The Peony Pavilion is China’s most popular play… a deeply emotional and poetic work considered as the Ming dynasty’s literary high point * Culture Trip *
The very moment William Shakespeare was sitting down to pen Romeo and Juliet, a Ming-dynasty Mandarin called Tang Xianzu was composing the most celebrated epic of Chinese opera * The Independent *
One needs to read beyond Peony Pavilion to fully grasp the fascinatingly complex world of Tang Xianzu's Four Dreams and truly appreciate his literary mastery -- Tian Yuan Tan, Professor of Chinese Studies, SOAS University of London

Tang Xianzu (1550-1616) is considered China’s greatest playwright and is revered in a country of great literary and dramatic traditions. The writer's most famous works, known collectively as the Four Dreams, are still performed throughout China today on the Chinese Kun opera stage. Professor Wang Rongpei (1942-2017) was a prestigious Chinese translator, lexicologist and educator. His effort in translating the five dramas of Tang Xianzu over the past two decades culminated in the publication of his magnum opus The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu. Zhang Ling (1975-) is an associate professor of Soochow University. She cooperated with her doctoral tutor Professor Wang Rongpei in the English translation and study of a number of Chinese literary classics, including Gems of Kunqu Opera, Gems of the Wu Ballads and Tang Xianzu’s dramas.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781912392018
ISBN 10	1912392011
Title	The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu
Author	Tang Xianzu
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Year published	2018-02-22
Number of pages	1072
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable