A Series on Chinese Literati (6 Books)

Chinese history is long and rich. From an early date, China developed a fine tradition of recording the history of its own people.

The six-volume series A Portrait of Chinese Literati deciphers the stories of more than fifty Chinese writers and thinkers, bringing historical figures vividly into the present.

Author Liu Xiaochuan sets out to trace the pulse of history and culture through the lives of great writers from every era of China. By following the paths of individuals connected to Chinese history and culture, he reconstructs how history and culture truly developed. These essays blend history, literature, and philosophy, while also reflecting the insights and emotions of a cultural observer living in the modern age. Originally a novelist, Liu Xiaochuan brings a literary touch to his accounts of these writers and their times, showcasing his powerful prose, rich ability to bring the past to life, and broad experience of life.