The Crooked Road (Volume 1 and 2) -- Popular Library of Famous Ancient Chinese Novels

Author: Li Luyuan (Qing Dynasty), edited and annotated by Li Ying
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: In the 13th year of the Qianlong reign (1748), in Henan County, known as the "famous region of Confucian learning in Central China," a scholar in his forties decided to write a unique novel that could "inspire people's goodness and correct their indulgence." He named it The Light of the Crooked Road. This scholar was named Li Luyuan. The Light of the Crooked Road is a lengthy work, consisting of 108 chapters, telling the story of how a scion of an official family descends into decline and then reforms, restoring his family's honor. The Light of the Crooked Road can be considered an educational novel, as it realistically portrays the process of Tan Shaowen's decline and self-improvement. The author aimed to warn the world: be strict with your children, choose teachers wisely, and be cautious in making friends. The final words of Tan Xiaoyi at the end of his life—"Study diligently and associate with upright people"—are the essence of the novel, serving as a guiding light for educating children in the feudal era. As a learned scholar with extensive knowledge and worldly experience, Li Luyuan wrote this novel with a spirit of realism. The Light of the Crooked Road realistically depicts the social life of 18th-century China, providing valuable material for social history and holding high cognitive value.