C. T. Hsia is the author of several important books on Chinese literature. He has been widely influential among Chinese readers and has influenced two generations of English-speaking scholars. He retired from teaching in 1991 and is Professor Emeritus of Chinese at Columbia University.

"The great virtue of this book is that it provides a practical acquaintance with the writing itself by means of copious passages of translation from representative novels." - New York Times Book Review "C. T. Hsia's book is by now an acknowledged classic. It truly opened up a new field and prepared the way for generations of American scholars to do research. We are all in his debt." - Leo Lee

C. T. Hsia is the author of several important books on Chinese literature. He has been widely influential among Chinese readers and has influenced two generations of English-speaking scholars. He retired from teaching in 1991 and is Professor Emeritus of Chinese at Columbia University.

"The great virtue of this book is that it provides a practical acquaintance with the writing itself by means of copious passages of translation from representative novels." - New York Times Book Review "C. T. Hsia's book is by now an acknowledged classic. It truly opened up a new field and prepared the way for generations of American scholars to do research. We are all in his debt." - Leo Lee