The Hsi-yu Chi

A Study of Antecedents to the Sixteenth-Century Chinese Novel (Monkey)

Author

Glen Dudbridge

Publisher

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1970

Printing Details

First edition, first printing. Hardback in dustwrapper. 23.5 × 16cm, 219pp.

"A study of the early versions of the classic Chinese novel known to readers in English as Monkey. Dr Dudbridge examines a long tradition of earlier versions in narrative and dramatic form through which the great episodic cycle slowly took shape. The two main fields of interest are popular culture and folklore and the development of Chinese vernacular literature. Dr Dudbridge provides a very thorough survey of present knowledge about the whole topic, and discusses critically a good deal of theorizing about it. This is a study for experts. It uses Chinese characters, both on text pages and in the bibliography, which is very extensive. The plates reproduce paintings, carvings, and sections of text relevant to the tradition."

Condition

The book itself is in very good condition, with a little foxing along the bottom edge of the prelims. The dustwrapper has light edgewear and bumping but is sound.