A study and translation of Tou O Yüan, a traditional Chinese drama by Kuan Hanch'ing, the leading playwright of the Yüan period (1279-1368). The play remained a popular favourite and is still performed in the Peking opera theatres in a revised version, under the title Snow in Midsummer. In her very full introduction Professor Shih discusses the literary and historical background to the play - the language and conventions of Yüan drama and its remarkable emergence under Mongol rule. The format used for the play itself represents an innovation in the presentation of materials for the students of Chinese literature and language. Each section of text (in Chinese characters) has an interlinear transliteration and literal translation, with a free translation, notes and commentary on the facing page.
