How to Read Chinese Poetry

Cai (Chinese and comparative literature, U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) has created an anthology notable for its ease of use and clear and effective presentation of a large body of material. Over 140 works are included, arranged chronologically into era and genre, from the Xia through the Qing. Each section is authored by a specialist in Chinese literature (they're based at universities in the U.S., Canada, and Singapore) and includes an introduction to the genre and its main poets, followed by the poems. The poems are presented in English, followed by word-for-word translation with the original to demonstrate the poem's structure, and a stylistic analysis. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)