Princeton University Press - The Four Masterworks of the Ming Novel

Explore the evolution of Chinese prose fiction with Andrew Plaks' analysis of the "Four Masterworks of the Ming Novel" (ssu ta ch'i-shu). Originally published in 1987, this scholarly work reinterprets these great texts as more than just collections of popular stories. Professor Plaks demonstrates how their fullest versions represent a sophisticated new genre of Chinese fiction that emerged during the late Ming dynasty, particularly throughout the sixteenth century. This volume from the Princeton Legacy Library examines how these radical transformations of source materials reflected the intellectual concerns and values of the period's literati. It is an essential resource for those studying literary theory, movements, and the history of Chinese fiction.