An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911

This anthology is amazing and really beyond belief - rich in poetry and commentary that is deep and intelligent. This book (at over 1,200 pages) is virtually an encyclopedia of traditional Chinese culture, and it's fascinating to read the poems in the context of the world in which they were written. The range of work is vast to say the least, and is utterly absorping; this is far and away my favorite of the larger anthologies of traditional Chinese poetry.

This book is REALLY big, so it has plenty of information. If you're into chinese literature or just a little curious there's definitely something inside for you!

One of the best translations of classical Chinese literature. The author knows the Chinese well: not just the superficial kind knowledge about the Chinese language, but a deep understanding of the Chinese culture, the Chinese literary tradition. The works are not only arranged in a chronological order (with useful background introductions) but also grouped under themes and motifs with succinct but illuminating critical introductions, or a seductively told story that adds to the pleasure of reading beautiful literary writings. The another great thing about this anthology is, of course, the fact that it is put together by one person, not coming out of diverse hands. This is a significant accomplishment, one that enables the reader to see the styles and nuances of the original works much better than otherwise.

Stephen Owen personally collated and translated nearly all of the texts in this work, allowing the reader to get a sense of the nuances between differing texts without the anxiety that they are getting the nuances between differing translators. His translations are not only precise, but demonstrate a genuine love not only of the Chinese language, but the English language as well. This anthology takes the reader from the beginnings of poetry to historical essays to literary criticism to drama, all with the same exacting eye on detail and lyricism. What a pleasure to read.

Owen's anthology is no less than a work of a genious. What makes this work so great on the one hand is its scope as it covers chinese literature from its beginings up to the twentieth century, the various genres of literature and poetry that existed along the Chinese history and the fact that it provides excellent introductions to each and every subject it deals with ( including historical introductions ), and on the other hand, it's greatness lies in the fact that all the works in it were translated by Owen himself and in the most beautifull way. absolutely recommended!