Officialdom Chronicles

Author: Li Boyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-07
Features: The Real Story of Officialdom is a vivid portrayal of the of feudal society's bureaucracy, with characters so lifelike they seem to leap off the page. The Real Story of Officialdom is an outstanding satire novel, characterized by its humorous and satirical realism. Compiled by Li Boyuan, The Real Story of Officialdom is one of the most representative works of late Qing satire novels, one of the Four Great Satire Novels. It consists of 60 chapters, with a structure similar to The Story of the Stone, where the narrative shifts from one character to the next in a cascading manner. The Real Story of Officialdom depicts the late Qing officialdom as its subject, focusing on the corruption, darkness, and ugliness of the old officialdom during the period of feudal society's collapse. Here, there are not only high-ranking officials like Grand Secretaries, Viceroy and Governor, and Commanders of the Imperial Guard, but also local magistrates, clerks, and minor officials. They are either morally corrupt, foolish, or decadent, forming a comprehensive portrait of the of late Qing officials.