Description - The Golden Lotus by Egerton
"The Golden Lotus", which Pearl S. Buck called "the greatest novel of physical love China has ever produced", was first published in England in 1939, in an expurgated version consistent with the standards of the time. It is now published unexpurgated, giving a full and complete translation into English. The character of the book is such that it can be studied by those interested in the cultural history of China, as a national work - in the same way that the "Decameron", "Arabian Nights" and the "Canterbury Tales" are regarded as national works. It offers an observation of social and sexual life in China during the period when it was written. At the same time, it also addresses a wider field of sexuality. "The Golden Lotus" is a portrait of family life in a polygamous household during the Sung dynasty, in the reign of Hui Tsung (AD 1101-26). It is told with an extreme frankness and detail. It is an epic work that follows the lives of Hsi-men Ching, his wives, the women of his household, the singing girls with whom he associates, his disreputable friends and the officials with whom he comes into contact.
A popular tradition says that the writer to whom the work is attributed poisoned the pages of the manuscript of "The Golden Lotus" and then offered it to his enemy, the Prime Minister, in the hope that he would become so excited by the subject, and so engrossed in his reading, that he would absorb the poison as he turned the pages. "The Golden Lotus" existed in manuscript only for many years and, when it was first printed nearly a 100 years after its assumed author's death, it was promptly placed on the list of prohibited books by the famous Emperor K'ang Hsi. This edition is presented in the form of a four volume set in a slipcase.
Buy The Golden Lotus by Egerton from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, BooksDirect.
Other Editions - The Golden Lotus by Egerton
A Preview for this title is currently not available.
Checking availability...
Slimming and Tasty: 100 Delicious, Low-Calorie Recipes and Healthy Fakeaways
