None but the Nightingale

This classic introduction to the Chinese literature is a fundamental step towards the West's understanding of the rich literary legacy of China.

Readable, condensed, entertaining, the selections contained in this book belong to enduring world literature; the "Great Society" envisioned by Confucius; the "Fireside Chats" of K'ang Hei; the supercilious letter of the Emperor Ch'ien Lung to King George of England; the "Memorial: on the Bone of Buddha”; the imaginative lines of the poets.

The wit and wisdom of China dispel time and distance and bring East and West together as the heart and soul of a great people is revealed in their stories, anecdotes, essays, and poems. Here is a close-up view of the educational system, home life, and government of old China as found in their own writings, with personal glimpses of some of the great--the emperors bathing in their crystal pools, of Lao Tzu in his library, and Confucius in his fur-lined underwear.