Tales of Liao Zhai about the Extraordinary

Here live fox spirits and restless ghosts, the dead speak with the living, and wonder serves merely as a thin shell for truth. These stories lead from poor huts to rich houses, from the mundane world – to the other side of reality, where human passions prove stronger than any sorcery.

“Tales of Liao Zhai about the Extraordinary” is a classic collection of Chinese prose from the 17th century, created by Pu Songling, where the fantastic becomes a means to speak of love and fidelity, fear and greed, justice and retribution.

This edition presents the most well-known and artistically significant stories of the cycle, allowing one to fully appreciate the poetics and depth of this unique monument of Chinese literature. The texts reveal traditional views of a world where the boundary between the real and the supernatural is conditional, and truth is often hidden behind wonder. The edition is illustrated with Chinese engravings from the 19th century. The gift design, ribbon, and colored edges make the book particularly beautiful and give it a collectible appearance. The text of the works is presented in both Chinese and Russian, allowing readers to compare the translation with the original. The book will interest both lovers of Eastern culture and classical literature, as well as readers seeking unusual plots, philosophical ambiguity, and an atmosphere of mystery. The edition can take a worthy place in a personal library and become a thoughtful gift for connoisseurs of world literature.