In his preface, the anonymous author of Courtesans and Opium describes his book as an act of penance for thirty years spent patronizing the brothels of Yangzhou. Written in the 1840s, his story is filled with vice and dark consequence, portraying the hazards of the city's seedy underbelly and warning others against the example of the Fool.Chinese literature's first true "city novel," Courtesans and Opium recounts the illustrious career of a debauched soul enveloped by enthralling pursuits and romantic illusions. While socially acceptable marriages were arranged and often loveless, brothels offered men accomplished courtesans who served as both enchanting companions and sensual lovers. These professional sirens dressed in the latest styles and dripped with gold, silver, and jewels. From an early age, they were taught to excel at various arts and graces, which transformed the brothel into a kind of club for men to meet, exchange gossip, and smoke opium at...
In his preface, the anonymous author of Courtesans and Opium describes his book as an act of penance for thirty years spent patronizing the brothels of Yangzhou. Written in the 1840s, his story is filled with vice and dark consequence, portraying the hazards of the city's seedy underbelly and warning others against the example of the Fool. Chinese literature's first true "city novel," Courtesans and Opium recounts the illustrious career of a debauched soul enveloped by enthralling pursuits and romantic illusions. While socially acceptable marriages were arranged and often loveless, brothels offered men accomplished courtesans who served as both enchanting companions and sensual lovers. These professional sirens dressed in the latest styles and dripped with gold, silver, and jewels. From an early age, they were taught to excel at various arts and graces, which transformed the brothel into a kind of club for men to meet, exchange gossip, and smoke opium at their leisure. The Fool's fable follows five sworn brothers and their respective relationships with Yangzhou courtesans, revealing in acute detail the lurid materialism of this dangerous world—its violence and corruption as well as its seductive but illusory promise. Never before translated into English, Courtesans and Opium offers a brilliant window into the decadence of nineteenth-century China.
Patrick Hanan (1927–2014) was Victor S. Thomas Professor of Chinese Literature at Harvard University. He was one of the foremost translators of Chinese fiction from the fourteenth to the twentieth century. His books include Chinese Fiction of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries, which contains a study of this novel. His translations include Silent Operas, The Carnal Prayer Mat, A Tower for the Summer Heat, The Sea of Regret, The Money Demon, and Falling in Love. Views: 386
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. Views: 386
Celebrated as a masterpiece from its first publication, A Single Man is the story of George, an English professor in suburban California left heartbroken after the death of his lover, Jim. With devastating clarity and humour, Christopher Isherwood shows George's determination to carry on, evoking the unexpected pleasures of life as well as the soul's ability to triumph over loneliness and alienation. Views: 386
Two Amish stories of faith and healing A Widow's Hope by Vannetta ChapmanAfter tragedy claimed her husband's life and her son's ability to walk, Hannah King doesn't want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart?His Amish Sweetheart by Jo Ann BrownNathaniel Zook returns to his Amish community after inheriting his grandparents' alpaca farm. His childhood best friend, schoolteacher Esther Stoltzfus, is the one person who can help him save the homestead. Soon, caring for the sweet alpacas—and a young orphaned boy—is bringing Nathaniel and Esther closer than ever. Yet Nathaniel will have to risk sharing all that's in his heart to form the family he always dreamed of. Views: 380
The story of a Mind traveler, who has to finish the job of finding a secret code from an unknown person to safeguard his girl friend in 19 Minutes! How he travels on people's mind and reads their mind and finds the unknown to safeguard his girlfriend, is the story with its unexpected Twists!I have 19 Minutes left, to read the secret code from an unknown person's mind, to safeguard my girlfriend Nisha! I can do that and only i can do that, I am Mind traveler! They found me and they followed me, and now i need to read the code from that unknown person! I have to start my travel in this crowded Indian railway station, and i have only one clue, that he is an American! Me too! Time is running, every seconds count for me and i need to be smart in my mind travelling to read and jump in to another one's mind to safeguard my Nisha! Will I succeed?! Views: 377
Shelly couldn't let Nicholas go. So she created a monster. And now, it's the monster who won't let go.Nick, the teenaged son of two scientists in the guinea pig group is sick of waiting to wake the sleeping colonists. There has to be something he can do about the boredom.A science fiction story for young adults. Views: 377
the unbeatable spirit of the heroes of old is reborn in the nineteen sixties, where it engages the monsters and villains of modern life in scotland in its quest to be free, in this swirling epic set in a bygone era which still beams a nostalgic message to us. this is how it really was.growing up in scotland during the sixties, the main character of this novel spins the capivating tale of the formative events and escapades that snowballed into an epic struggle to make real the obsessions of that era which colonized the minds of his generation. the many characters who are drawn to him and become part of this tale are often recognizable as like ourselves or others we have known; the dilemmas and challenges he faces are some of them familiar, others bizarre and extreme; what is unique and uplifting is his response and his spirit and the insights he gains into friendship, love, wealth, and power. Views: 372
It was supposed to be a simple remodel.She didn't plan on finding buried treasure...or looking down the barrel of a gun. Agatha Lapp is elated when Channel 4 News decides to run a feature story on Amish businesses. The extra publicity should guarantee even more success for her Plain and Simple B&B, especially after she's finished with the remodel. The cameras are rolling live when Agatha raises the rubber mallet and punches the first hole in her living room wall. That's when things get complicated... Hidden inside the wall is a diamond-studded belt buckle stolen twenty years earlier. The police return the buckle to the owners and refuse to re-open the case. The public is convinced more stolen goods are hidden at Agatha's. When overzealous treasure hunters break into the B&B and a dead body is found half a mile down the road, Agatha knows she needs to take this investigation into her own hands.... Views: 372
Charlotte moves from the city to a small town and finds herself drawn to a pastor, but refuses to consider that as a possibility because of some dark things in her past. What is her mysterious secret and will it keep her from ever finding a lasting relationship?Each novel in this series is a complete story.Charlotte is a successful novelist who escapes city life and moves to the small town of Crispens Point in Blackberry County. She immediately connects with some of the friendly town residents and begins to feel at home right away. When a friend invites her to attend a local community church, Charlotte is immediately attracted to the pastor, but refuses to consider that as a possibility because of some dark things in her past and the distracting interest of another man.What is the dark thing in Charlotte’s past that seems to dominate everything? Is it enough to keep her from ever finding a lasting relationship?Each novel in this series is a complete story.Reviews:Fabulous!I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only did it capture my interest from the beginning, it also presented biblical truths in a very clear and understandable way. Kudos to the author. Her book will touch the hearts of those who read it.A really good read. Really enjoyed this book.Found it quite interesting. Looking for another book by this author. Views: 371
The Fair God or: The Last of the \'Tzins A TALE OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO (1873) From Mexico ... a civilization that might have instructed Europe was crushed out.... It has been her [Spain\'s] evil destiny to ruin two civilizations, Oriental and Occidental, and to be ruined thereby herself.... In America she destroyed races more civilized than herself.—DRAPER, Intellectual Development of Europe. INTRODUCTORY Fernando De Alva,a noble Tezcucan, flourished, we are told, in the beginning of the sixteenth century. He was a man of great learning, familiar with the Mexican and Spanish languages, and the hieroglyphics of Anahuac. Ambitious to rescue his race from oblivion, and inspired by love of learning, he collected a library, availed himself of his knowledge of picture-writing, became master of the songs and traditions, and, in the Castilian language, composed books of merit. Views: 371
The Age of Napoleon surveys the amazing chain of events that wrenched Europe out of the Enlightenment and into the Age of Democracy:
The French Revolution---from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotining of the King
The revolution's leaders Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, Saint-Just---all cut down by the reign of terror they inaugurated.
Napoleon's meteoric rise---from the provincial Corsican military student to the Emperor commanding the largest army in history
Napoleon's fall---his army's destruction in the snows of Russia, his exile to Elba, escape and reconquest of the throne, and ultimate defeat at Waterloo by the combined forces of Europe.
* The birth of romanticism and the dawning of a new age of active democracy and a rising middle class, laying the foundation for our own era. Views: 371
The nightmare unfolds as Torey makes her way through desolate landscapes and maddening situations to search for her missing boyfriend. As the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, Torey must not only fight for her love, but also her sanity.I hope that words alone are enough to convey what it is I have discovered about the illusions of living - most pertinently, the illusion of freedom. The goal is to reach out to our horizons and live in ways as true as possible to our nature. Those that block us from the horizons are the despots of life, and they are the bane of existence.From the oneness of existence to the conscious desire to escape our daily bindings, I take a journey to the horizons around us and report back what it is I have found.These thirteen poems cover a lot of ground, culminating in my wish for all others to simply be true to themselves.No adult-only content. Views: 370
The revered teacher and bestselling author of such classic Christian works as Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis here offers wisdom and lessons that illuminate our private dialogue with God—prayer—in this collection drawn from the breadth of his writings.C. S. Lewis's insights on Christianity and his reflections on Christian life continue to guide us more than fifty years after his death. How to Pray showcases Lewis's enduring wisdom on prayer and its place in our daily lives.Cultivated from his many essays, articles, and letters, as well as his classic works, How to Pray provides practical wisdom and instruction to help readers nurture their spiritual beliefs and embrace prayer in all its forms. While many people would like to speak to God, they often don't know how to begin. Lewis guides them through the practice, illuminating the significance of prayer and why it is central to faith.A welcome addition to the C. S. Lewis... Views: 364
