Twelve Floors -- Popular Library of Famous Ancient Chinese Novels

Author: Li Yu of the Qing Dynasty
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: In the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign (1651), Li Yu came to Hangzhou and stayed there for ten years. By the beautiful shores of Benzi Lake, he experienced a peak in his creative career, writing a large number of dramatic and fictional works. The famous collection of vernacular tales Twelve Pavilions was completed during this period. Twelve Pavilions consists of twelve volumes, each telling a story. Since each story features a pavilion, and the characters' fates and plot developments are often tied to these pavilions, the entire collection is named "Twelve Pavilions," which reflects Li Yu's meticulous craftsmanship in storytelling. Twelve Pavilions is highly entertaining, with a light and joyful tone. His works often lack profound social commentary or lofty ideals, but each story is fresh, witty, and delightful. Out of the twelve stories, the majority are entirely original to Li Yu, rather than drawing on external sources. The themes are clear, the plots are well-structured, and the central characters remain consistent throughout, with no unnecessary digressions in the narrative. The plot designs are novel and unique, often full of twists and turns, suspense, and surprising revelations, yet the transitions are natural and logical, without any flaws. The endings, however, are both unexpected yet reasonable.