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.
Formerly banned in China, performed at New York's Lincoln Center, and named as an Outstanding Academic Book by Choice, The Peony Pavilion has an intriguingly diverse appeal.
Famous for plays centering around dreams, such as The Peony Pevilion, The Dream on the Handan Road, and The Anecdote of the Purple Hairpin, Tang Xianzu, a playwright of the Ming Dynasty, was adept at finding human truths in fantastic settings. Available for the first time in English, this play completes the socalled ""four dreams,"" by vividly describing a life lived among the smallest of creatures: ants. In the play, discharged army officer Chunyu Fen dreams that he enters an ant hole and ends up marrying the daughter of the king of the ants. The king appoints Chunyu Fen to a high position in his administration. Delightful in its suggestion that men and ants are not so different after all, A Dream also provides a valuable insight into the social problems of the late Ming Dynasty. This is truly a worthy addition to any drama library.
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.
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