{"product_id":"the-story-of-the-stone-volume-iv-isbn-9780140443714","title":"The Story of the Stone, Volume IV","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDivided into five volumes, of which \u003ci\u003eThe Debt of Tear\u003c\/i\u003es is the fourth, \u003ci\u003eThe Story of the Stone\u003c\/i\u003e charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). 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. 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. 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.The Story of the Stone: Volume 4Note on Spelling\u003cbr\u003ePreface\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 81:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eFour young ladies go fishing and divine the future; Bao-yu receives a homily and is re-enrolled in the Family School\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 82:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn old pedant tries to instil some Moral Philosophy into his incorrigible pupil; And the ailing Naiad, in a nightmare, confronts the spectres of her fevered mind.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 83:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Indisposition in the Imperial Bedchamber calls for a Family Visitation; While insubordination in the inner apartments reveals Bao-chai's long-suffering nature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 84:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBao-yu is given an impromptu examination, and his betrothal is discussed for the first time; Jia Huan visits a convulsive child, and old hostilites are resumed\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 85:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIt is announced that Jia Zheng has been promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary; And it is discovered that Xue Pan has once more brought upon himself the threat of exile\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 86:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBribery induces an old mandarin to tamper with the course of justice; And a discourse on the Qin provides a young lady with a vehicle for romantic feelings\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 87:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAutumnal sounds combine with sad remembrances to inspire a composition on the Qin; And a flood of passion allows evil spirits to disturb the serenity of Zen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 88:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBao-yu gratifies his grandmother by praising a fatherless child; Cousin Zhen rectifies family discipline by chastising two unruly servants\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 89:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eOur hero sees the handiwork of a departed love, and is moved to write and ode; Frowner falls prey to hysterical fear and resolves to starve to death\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 90:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA poor girl loses a padded jacket and puts up with some obstreperous behaviour; A young man accepts a tray of sweetmeats and is put out by some devious goings-on\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 91:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn the pursuance of lust, Moonbeam evolves an artful strategem; In a flight of Zen, Bao-yu makes an enigmatic confession\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 92:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eQiao-jie studies the Lives of Noble Women and shows a precocious enthusiasm for Virtue; Jia Zheng admires a Mother Pearl and reflect on the vicissitudes of Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 93:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Zhen retainer seeks shelter in the Jia household; And shady activities are revealed behind the Iron Threshold\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 94:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eGrandmother Jia gives a crab-blossom party - a celebration of the ominous; Bao-yu loses his Magic Jade - a strange disappearance of the numinous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 95:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA rumour comes true and the Imperial Consort passes away; A counterfeit is deceptively like the real thing, and Bao-yu loses his wits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 96:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eXi-feng conceives an ingenious plan of deception;  And Frowner is deranged by an inadvertent disclosure\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 97:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLin Dai-yu burns her poems to signal the end of her heart's folly; And Xue Bao-chai leaves home to take part in a solemn rite\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChapter 98:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCrimson Pearl's suffering spirit returns to the Realm of Separation; And the convalescent Stone-in-waiting weeps at the scene of past affection\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppendix I:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrefaces to the first Cheng-Gao edition Joint Foreword to the subsequent Cheng-Gao edition\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppendix II:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Octopartite Composition or 'bagu wenzhang'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppendix III:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Qin or Chinese Lute, and Knowing the Sound\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppendix IV:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIron Threshold Temple and Water-moon Priory\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCharacters in Volume 4\u003cbr\u003eGenealogical Tables\u003c\/p\u003e“Filled with classical allusions, multilayered wordplay, and delightful poetry, Cao’s novel is a testament to what Chinese literature was capable of. Readers of English are fortunate to have David Hawkes and John Minford’s \u003ci\u003eThe Story of the Stone\u003c\/i\u003e, which distills a lifetime of scholarship and reading into what is probably the finest work of Chinese-to-English literary translation yet produced. You will be rewarded every bit of attention you give it, many times over.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSupChina,\u003c\/i\u003e “The 100 China Books You Have to Read, Ranked” (#1)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eCao Xueqin \u003c\/b\u003e(1715-63) was born into a family which for three generations held the office of Commissioner of Imperial Textiles in Nanking, a family so wealthy they were able to entertain the Emperor four times.  However, calamity overtook them and their property was consfiscated.  Cao Xueqin was living in poverty when he wrote his famous novel \u003ci\u003eThe Story of the Stone\u003c\/i\u003e.Also known as The Dream of the Red Chamber","brand":"Penguin Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233748922597,"sku":"NP9780140443714","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780140443714.jpg?v=1767741683","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-story-of-the-stone-volume-iv-isbn-9780140443714","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}