The celebrated Chinese classic novel is a masterpiece of realism written in the middle of the 18th century. Taking as its background the decline of several related big families and drawing much from his own experiences,the author Cao Xueqin(?—c.1763)focussed on the tragic love between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu and,in the meantime,provides a panorama of the lives of people of various levels in the degenerating empire.But he left the work unfinished.Gao E(c.1738—c.1815)completed the work some years later in much of Gao's spirit and also put in his own revelation,which aroused protracted controversy throughout centuries.Exposing social evils,the book cries out denunciation against the feudal system.
Table of Contents
VOLUME Ⅰ
CHAPTER 1
Zhen Shiyin in a Dream Sees the Jade of Spiritual Understanding
Jia Yucun in His Obscurity Is Charmed by a Maid
CHAPTER 2
Lady Jia Dies in the City of Yangzhou
Leng Zixing Describes the Rong Mansion
CHAPTER 3
Lin Ruhai Recommends a Tutor to His Brother-in-Law
The Lady Dowager Sends for Her Motherless GrandDaughter
CHAPTER 4
An Ill-Fated Girl Meets an Ill-Fated Man
A Confounded Monk Ends a Confounded Case
CHAPTER 5
The Spiritual Stone Is Too Bemused to Grasp the Fairy's Riddles
The Goddess of Disenchantment in Her Kindness Secretly Expounds on Love
CHAPTER 6
Baoyu Has His First Taste of Love
Granny Liu Pays Her First Visit to the Rong Mansion
CHAPTER 7
Madam You Invites Xifeng Alone
At a Feast in the Ning Mansion Banyu First Meets Qin Zhong
CHAPTER 8
Nanny Li Makes a Nuisance of Herself by Warning
Baoyu Breaks a Teacup and Flies into a Temper
CHAPTER 9
Devoted Friends Join the Clan School
Mud-Slinging Boys Brawl in the Classroom
CHAPTER 10
Widow Jin Pockets Her Pride Because of Self-Interest
Dr.Zhang Diagnoses Keqing's Illness
CHAPTER 11
Jia Jing's Birthday Is Celebrated in the Ning Mansion
Jia Rui Meets and Lusts After Xifeng
CHAPTER 12
Xifeng Sets a Vicious Trap for a Lover
Jia Rui Looks into the Wrong Side of the PreciousMirror of Love
……
VOLUME Ⅱ
VOLUME Ⅲ
VOLUME Ⅳ
