The Story of the Stone: Volume 4 (Penguin Classics)

The Story of the Stone is an epic work of Chinese literature that charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family. In The Debt of Tears, the fourth volume in the story, Bao-yu and Dai-you hang on the dividing line between the two planes of existence, one that constantly reminds them that they are all subject to the supernatural scheme of things. Written with rich detail in a poetic style, the novel communicates the essence of traditional Chinese family life in the 18th century.