Grand Canal, Great River by Philip Watson
In July 1170, a Chinese poet, politician and historian made a journey from west to east China. Lu You (pronounced 'loo yo') kept a daily record of his experiences: the people he met, the unfolding landscape and the famous historical sites he visited. What emerges is a detailed panorama of twelfth-century China, an exotic mixture of travelogue, literature and politics. This new modern translation by Philip Watson of the whole of the diary makes the entirety of this fascinating work of literature accessible to the general reader for the first time, and his detailed commentary fills in all the essential background information. Contemporary paintings and other artworks, together with photographs of the places described, complete this beautifully produced book, which brings the world of Lu You dramatically to life.
Philip Watson studied Chinese at Oxford and London, worked in the Painting and Calligraphy department of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, and was briefly a lecturer in Chinese at Edinburgh University, before joining the British diplomatic service. His career, which included postings in Beijing and Hong Kong, culminated in responsibility for Asia, the Americas and Australasia. He was appointed CMG in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1999. Watson's current interest is translation from Classical Chinese of the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780711227194 |
| ISBN 10 | 0711227195 |
| Title | Grand Canal, Great River |
| Author | Philip Watson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Quarto Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2007-06-01 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |