Chinese Literature Ancient and Classical

<p>André Lévy provides a picture of Chinese literature of the past that brilliantly illustrates the four great literary genres of China: the classics prose poetry and the literature of entertainment. His discussion of approximately 120 vivid translations combines personal insights with innovative historical accounts in a genre-based approach that moves beyond the typical chronology of dynasties. Renowned scholar William H. Nienhauser Jr. translated Lévy's work from the French and returned to the original Chinese for the texts. This informative engaging and eminently readable introduction to the three millennia of traditional Chinese literature is highly recommended for students and general readers.</p>