Beauty Book

Name: Beauty Book
Author: (Qing Dynasty) Xu Zhen

美人书

by (Qing Dynasty) Xu Zhen (（清）徐震)

Status: Completed
Audience: Female
Source: Fanqie

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Stats

89Reads

8.7Score

12Chapters

Synopsis

"Book of Beauties", also known as "Book of Female Talents" and "Collection of Female Talents", is a unique collection of classical Chinese novels written by Xu Zhen, a writer in the Qing Dynasty. The book is divided into eight volumes (or twelve volumes, some versions vary). Each volume takes a woman with outstanding talents and different destinies as the central character and is an independent chapter. Group portraits of talented women, each with their own style: The book carefully depicts eight (or more) female images, including Xiaoqing (Volume 1), Yang Biqiu (Volume 2), Zhang Xiaolian (Volume 3), Cui Shu (Volume 4), Zhang Wanxiang (Volume 5), Chen Xiaru (Volume 6), Lu Yunqing (Volume 7), and Hao Xiang'e (Volume 8). Some of them are good at poetry, some are proficient in music, calligraphy and painting, some have extraordinary intelligence, some are loyal and strong-willed, showing extraordinary talents and personal charm. The work profoundly depicts the rough experiences of these talented women under feudal ethics, marriage system, and social turmoil. They may die young due to "unfortunate beauty" (such as Xiaoqing), or suffer mismatches with gangsters (such as Yang Biqiu), or boldly elope because of the pursuit of true love (such as Zhang Xiaolian, Lu Yunqing), or die because of their unyielding determination (such as Hao Xiang'e)... Xu Zhen uses smooth and elegant classical Chinese to narrate, with twists and turns in the plot and vivid descriptions of details. As a "Yanshui Sanren", the author often inserts comments at the beginning, end of the chapter or at key points in the plot to express his feelings about the fate of the characters, criticism of the world, and unique insights into concepts such as "talent", "emotion", "chastity", and "integrity", which enhances the argumentative nature and ideological depth of the work.

Reader comments

Good classic literature books
11mo ago
The old book is still good!
9mo ago

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