Scan barcode
mary_soon_lee's review
2.0
This is the fourth book of the five-volume Dent-Young translation of the Chinese classic usually known as "Water Margin," and includes a helpful introduction. The translation reads easily and is nicely augmented by Ming dynasty illustrations. This volume includes several milestones (spoilers ahead....) The full quorum of 108 heroes are all assembled together for the first time; a heaven-sent fireball signals the location of a stone tablet with the names and order of the heroes written on it; the Emperor grants the heroes amnesty and sends them to fight invading Liao Tartars; they defeat the Tartars.
The inclusion of poetry and fantastical elements continues to interest me, as do the details both military and civilian. Courtesies abound, even between enemies, with umpteen instances of people prostrating themselves. There are lavish, drunken banquets; large quantities of silk, gold, jewels are won or presented as bribes; the colors, armor, weapons, formations, and leaders of the armies are described at length; women warriors are repeatedly mentioned, though in a relatively minor role, including a Liao contingent of 5,000 women warriors.
This book has comparatively few instances of detestable behavior on the part of the heroes, but sufficient to reinforce that they are not nice people. Consequently, I didn't care when the Emperor granted them amnesty, nor when they defeated the Tartars, nor when individual heroes were wounded. I found the book of interest, but I didn't enjoy it.
The inclusion of poetry and fantastical elements continues to interest me, as do the details both military and civilian. Courtesies abound, even between enemies, with umpteen instances of people prostrating themselves. There are lavish, drunken banquets; large quantities of silk, gold, jewels are won or presented as bribes; the colors, armor, weapons, formations, and leaders of the armies are described at length; women warriors are repeatedly mentioned, though in a relatively minor role, including a Liao contingent of 5,000 women warriors.
This book has comparatively few instances of detestable behavior on the part of the heroes, but sufficient to reinforce that they are not nice people. Consequently, I didn't care when the Emperor granted them amnesty, nor when they defeated the Tartars, nor when individual heroes were wounded. I found the book of interest, but I didn't enjoy it.
More...