The Romance of the Two Han Dynasties (Treasury of Chinese Classical Historical Romances)

Historical romances have long been loved and welcomed by people from all walks of life, especially townsfolk and working people, and their popularity has endured. This is due not only to generations of folk performers who have carefully told and spread these stories, refining and embellishing them until the works grew ever more polished, compelling, and moving. Another important reason is that they possess a distinctive national character and style, vividly reflect the qualities of our people, and closely suit our tastes as readers. Using history to express feelings and convey ideas, they expose, to some extent, the contradictions and ills of feudal society, while giving voice to the people’s sense of love and hatred and their most fundamental aspirations.