Water Margin

Author: Shi Nai'an
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Water Margin has long been favored by readers of all ages. As early as 1936, Mao Zedong once said in a conversation with the renowned American journalist Edgar Snow that he loved reading ancient Chinese legendary novels when he was young, and The Water Margin was one of them. He could almost recite many stories from the book and even knew more about them than the elders in the village. To popularize the classics, the author was commissioned by the publisher to condense the original million-word text into a concise ten-thousand-word version. Striving to remain faithful to the artistic conception and style of the original, the book preserves its authentic essence. It tells stories with plots and details, and portrays characters with distinct personalities and charm. To allow readers to appreciate the artistic charm of the original and enhance their language skills, all but a few obscure terms have been updated to modern language, while the original text remains unchanged. Like the original, it still adopts the dual title and chapter format. Over 120 exquisite illustrations drawn by a famous artist complement the text, vividly recreating the rich social life and profound artistic realm of the masterpiece. It is hoped that the publication of the illustrated (treasured edition) of The Water Margin will serve as a bridge for readers to understand the full scope of the original and grasp its essence.