Kingdoms in Peril, Volume 2 - by Feng Menglong (Paperback)

About the Book

"Kingdoms in Peril is an epic historical novel covering the five hundred and fifty years of the Eastern Zhou dynasty, from the civil wars and invasions that marked the birth of a new regime in 771 BCE to the unification of China in 221 BCE. Kingdoms in Peril was written in the 1640s, at the very end of the Ming dynasty, by the great novelist Feng Menglong (1574-1646). In the course of the one hundred and eight chapters of the complete novel, he documents the collapse of the Zhou confederacy during the Spring and Autumn period (771-475 BCE) and the slow rebuilding of civil society during the Warring States era (475-221 BCE) which culminated in the unification of China under the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty (r. 246-221 BCE as king; r. 221-210 BCE as emperor). Thus overall this novel describes a grand arc, from stability to chaos and back again. As a novel about politics, much of the narrative in Kingdoms in Peril concentrates on the exercise of power"--

Book Synopsis

Translated in full for the first time, this second volume immerses readers in the power and drama of the electrifying classic Chinese novel.

Lord Wen of Jin brings some temporary stability to the political scene when he returns after many years in exile. However, the grants of land and office to his longstanding supporters make them too powerful for his successors to control. Just as the Zhou aristocrats seize power from their king, a bitter struggle begins as ministers seek to impose their authority on their lords.

One of the great works of Chinese literature, Kingdoms in Peril is an epic historical novel charting the five hundred years leading to the unification of the country in 221 B.C.E. under the rule of the legendary First Emperor. Writing some fourteen hundred years later, the Ming-era author Feng Menglong drew on a vast trove of literary and historical documents to compose a gripping narrative account of how China was forged.

Detailing the stories of unforgettable characters who defined and shaped the times in which they lived, the complete edition of Kingdoms in Peril is a vital resource for those seeking a comprehensive overview of China's ancient past and the political machinations that led to its unification. There are many historical works that provide an account of some of these events, but none are as thrilling and breathtakingly memorable as Kingdoms in Peril.

From the Back Cover

"Olivia Milburn has given us a delicious romp through history, this time in her sprightly translation of the romance by the late Ming moralist Feng Menglong. The intrigues retold by Feng became the stuff of edifying proverbs in China and they became so celebrated in Europe that Voltaire adapted one for the Parisian theater. Now, at last, readers can feel the magic in this marvelous translation of an acclaimed book."--Michael Nylan, Professor and Jane K. Sather History Chair, University of California, Berkeley

"Written by the great master of vernacular literature Feng Menglong, Xin Leiguozhi is one of the finest examples of China's tradition of historical fiction. Milburn provides the vast novel's most exciting episodes here in unabridged form and presents them in a rollicking translation that does full justice to the original work."--Wilt L. Idema, Professor Emeritus of Chinese Literature, Harvard University

Review Quotes

"Olivia Milburn has done a spectacular job at making this remarkable work accessible to new audiences. Readers of English now, for the first time, have available to them an exuberant and comprehensive introduction to Eastern Zhou history."-- "Chinese Studies International"

About the Author

Feng Menglong (1574-1646) was a Chinese novelist, historian, and poet of the late Ming Dynasty. A master storyteller, he has long been admired for the psychological realism of his characters as well as the narrative skill displayed in his novels and short story collections.

Olivia Milburn is Professor in the School of Chinese at the University of Hong Kong. Her previous publications include The Glory of Yue and The Spring and Autumn Annals of Master Yan.