Dream of the Red Chamber By Cao Xueqin

Translated by H. Bencraft Joly
Foreword by John Minford
Introduction by Edwin Lowe
Dream of the Red Chamber is renowned for its epic
scope, rich psychological characterizations and
telling observations on family life and the role of
women in Chinese society. It is widely regarded as
the greatest Chinese classical novel and one of the
greatest works of world literature ever written.
The “Red Chamber” refers to a sheltered area in
wealthy households where daughters were confined until married—a veritable prison where
dreams of true love wither. This sweeping tale tells of two star-crossed lovers from rival branches
of the wealthy Jia family, who live in lavish adjacent compounds surrounded by a private garden.
The fates of the lovers and their families slowly unravel as this tragic tale unfolds.
Although written by a man, Dream of the Red Chamber is said to be one of the first great works of
women’s literature. The author, Cao Xueqin, is thought to have written the novel as a memorial to
the inspiring women he knew in his youth, and the book is filled with strong female characters who
struggle against the restrictions of a blatantly misogynistic society.

Cao Xueqin was born into a wealthy family whose status diminished and whose fortune was confiscated when he was still a child; spending the remainder of his life in poverty. He wrote Dream of the Red Chamber over a period of twenty years.
 H. Bencraft Joly was Vice-Consulate of Macao at the time he translated Dream of the Red
Chamber in an effort to advance an appreciation of Chinese literature among Westerners.
John Minford has published widely on Chinese literature and translated numerous works
including Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio and the Art of War.
Edwin Lowe is an independent publisher of books on the humanities who has over twenty
years of experience as an educator in Asian studies. He has taught at Macquarie University, the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales in Australia.

$29.99 paperback
$39.95 (CAD)
ISBN-13: 978-0-8048-5674-4
August
Literature
Tuttle Publishing
5 1/8 X 8 ● 992 pages
Previously Published ISBN:
978-0-8048-4096-5