Cao Xueqin 
Dream of the Red Chamber 

The classic eighteenth-century saga—a masterpiece of Chinese literature— about an aristocratic family and a forbidden love during the Qing dynasty. Considered one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, The Dream of the Red Chamber is believed to be a semiautobiographical account of author Cao Xueqin and his aristocratic family’s rise and fall, and focuses particularly on the women in his life, including servants. Originally circulated in hand-copied manuscripts, The Dream of the Red Chamber is not only rich with psychological insight, but also enlightening in its portrayal of Chinese society during the Qing dynasty. It is an engrossing epic of imperial politics, friendship, and romantic rivalry, with an extraordinary cast of characters.