The Legend of Yue Fei

This is one of the most important historical novels by Zhu Hailou, a master of wuxia fiction. In its 20 chapters, it tells the tragic story of Yue Fei, from his humble beginnings as a poor man’s son to his rise as a great general and, ultimately, his unjust death. The novel follows the major events of Yue Fei’s life, from the twists and turns of becoming Zhou Tong’s student, to tense battles against his enemies, the courage and ingenuity with which he fought the Jin forces, and the combination of authority and compassion he showed in suppressing bandits. These episodes are rendered in a bold, concise style, rich in dramatic flair. Though the storytelling ranges across grand, sweeping events, it is never careless, and the details of everyday life are especially full of human warmth. The characters’ inner lives are also portrayed with great subtlety. Yue Fei’s patriotic devotion, sense of the greater good, kindness, and humility are all brought vividly to life. Based primarily on the “Biography of Yue Fei” in the History of Song, this book adopts the style of classic wuxia fiction, with close attention to plot structure and an emphasis on drama and legend. It does full justice to the bearing of Yue Fei, a great general of his age, making this a truly captivating biography.