The Dream of the Red Chamber

The Dream of the Red Chamber is one of the oFour Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature." It is renowned for its huge scope, large cast of characters, and telling observations on the life and social structures of 18th century China and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of classical Chinese novels. The oRed Chambero is an expression used for the sheltered area where the daughters of wealthy Chinese families lived. Believed to be based on the authorAEs own life and intended as a memorial to the women that he knew in his youth, The Dream of the Red Chamber is a multilayered story that offers up key insights into Chinese culture.

Cao Xueqin was born into a wealthy family whose status diminished, and whose fortune was confiscated, when he was still a child. He spent the remainder of his life in poverty. The Dream of the Read Chamber, which he devoted ten years of his life to writing, was not published until thirty years after his death.

H. Bencraft Joly was Vice-Consulate of Macao at the time he translated The Dream of the Red Chamber in an effort to advance appreciation of Chinese literature among Western scholars.