Classical Chinese Literature: An Anthology of Translations, Vol. 1 Book

The summation of more than two thousand years of one of the world's most august literary traditions, this volume also represents the achievements of four hundred years of Western scholarship on China. The anthology includes over a thousand selections from the most renowned translators — including Ezra Pound, Cyril Birch, and Burton Watson.

C.D. Smith

Minford and Lau have provided the student of Chinese literature an invaluable treasure. Although several anthologies of Chinese literature in translation have already been published, this new collection—once joined by the second volume—will be by far the most complete, with an astounding number of selections, arranged mostly in chronological order. Like Victor Mair (ed. ofThe Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature, CH, Apr'96, the editors selected from the best translations available for each piece, including even an 1834 Latin translation fromThe Book of Changes; and like Stephen Owen (ed. ofAn Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911, CH, Nov'96, they have included all the classic pieces one would hope and expect to find in such a work....The addition of illustrations and graphics throughout and 'Further Reading' and 'Editors' Notes' at the ends of chapters are very useful. Highly recommended for students and scholars of Chinese literature at all levels.