
This story is told against the backdrop of a fictional magical stone that has been brought to life in the character of the mischievous boy Bao-yu.Īs is mentioned in the first chapter, "The Story of the Stone" is primarily a love story. Through his novel, Cao Xueqin also attempts to describe the lifestyle of this wealthy Chinese family. The main story line follows the growing up years of cousins Bao-yu, Dai-yu, and Bao-chai and charts the developing love triangle between these three main characters. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability."The Story of the Stone" is the first volume of a five volume series that tells the story of the prestigious Chinese Jia family. A novel of manners in Chinese literature. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things. The two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humour, realistic detail and delicate poetry, which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. Divided into five volumes, of which The Warning Voice is the third, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.īook Description Paperback. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence - a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things.įor more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature.ĭivided into five volumes, of which The Warning Voice is the third, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family).
