Romance of the Three Kingdoms - World Young Readers' Literature Classics Collection

Author: Luo Guanzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, also known as Romance of the Three Kingdoms or The Three Kingdoms (also The Three Kingdoms Heroes or The Complete Three Kingdoms), was written by Luo Guanzhong during the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicts events from the second year of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty (169) to the first year of Emperor Taikang of the Jin Dynasty (280), with a focus on the rise and fall of the three states—Wei, Shu, and Wu—over a period of about half a century. It is not only one of the earliest historical novels but also represents the highest achievement in ancient historical fiction. Written in accessible classical Chinese, it is clear, concise, and fluid. The writing style is dynamic and varied, with a grand structure that organizes the complex events and numerous characters of the roughly hundred years into a coherent and well-ordered narrative, with each part building upon the last. It excels in depicting wars, using vivid descriptions to highlight the unique characteristics of each battle and the application of different strategies and tactics under specific conditions. While portraying wars, it also depicts other activities as prelude or aftermath, creating a tense yet rhythmic and poetic narrative. It skillfully portrays characters by capturing their essence rather than their physical appearance. Zhuge Liang’s wisdom, Zhang Fei’s straightforwardness, Guan Yu’s bravery, Lu Su’s loyalty, as well as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Zhou Yu, and others—all are brought to life with vivid realism. It has had an immeasurable impact on Chinese literature and the lives of the Chinese people. For the convenience of children’s reading, this edition selects sixty-two interconnected and widely beloved stories. In the adaptation process, every effort has been made to remain faithful to the original while preserving its essence. It is believed that young readers will deeply enjoy the stories and characters in this book and gain both cultural and intellectual nourishment from them.