The Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Great book and came without a scratch

I love reading the story of the amazing video game series I've played events and conversations that I have yet to hear in different games or media of the Three Kingdoms story, it's also amazingly helpful reading to your gf over the phone to help get her to sleep :)

Superb, still one of the best piece of literatures. I have read it many times in other language. It is interesting to read it in English and see some variations in the interpretation of the translator. There are problems due to name pronunciations.

This book is very long and can be hard to get through due to the overwhelming amount of characters and events going on. As an American, there is a culture barrier for me there as well. However I am thankful I persevered through the story. I've always been a big Dynasty Warriors fan, and Redcliff is one of my favorite movies. It was great to get a more complete picture of the events of the Three Kingdoms, and all the little details and interactions. A great read if you can make it through!

Knocked a star off because there was some damage to the book upon arrival. Some scratches and a little bit of damage to the corner. I'm not a collector, I'm sure it'll go through a little more wear just being in my possession, but getting a brand new book with some damage is a little disheartening. Fresh clean books feel so good.

The map, list of characters, and chronology of historical events provided in the book are very helpful. The story speaks of so many famous characters and battles, of who teams up with whom in order to kill another group led by some other famous historical figure. There are battles and congregations all the time. So, the context provided by book is absolutely essential. It was nice of the translator to make the stories, poems, songs in the epic accessible to someone in the modern era who can't read ancient Chinese and knows nothing about Chinese history. The book, which I bought in paperback, arrived in perfect condition.

I was introduced to the world of Romance of the Three Kingdoms thanks to the Dynasty Warriors game, and decided I wanted to read to original work that the games were based on. This is actually the second copy of the story that I've bought; the first had a drastically different translation style -- Liu Bei was Liu Pei, Guan Yu was Kuan Yu, etc -- and it was off-putting enough that I found it difficult to follow. For those who are here because of the same reason I was, you'll be pleased to know that this printing shares the vast majority of the translations with the games we know and love. Sun Ce is Sun Ce, not Sun T'se!

I love the history of Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms and just being able to read such a tale from multiple perspectives just made me want to learn more about Chinese culture back in those times

It's a decent edition, it has a good translation tho is not the FULL history. It isn't complete, just takes the key moments of the original: for that porpouse is good. Pra lusofonos: Boa tradução, não é a melhor. História meio resumida e a qualidade é a da Penguin, boa diagramação mas o material da capa é um lixo, não parece feito pra durar infelizmente.

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms," attributed to Luo Guanzhong, is a towering classic of Chinese literature that masterfully weaves historical fact with legend. Set during the turbulent era following the collapse of the Han Dynasty, it chronicles the power struggles among the Wei, Shu, and Wu kingdoms. The novel excels in its rich tapestry of characters. Heroes like Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhuge Liang are depicted with a depth that makes their virtues and flaws both grand and relatable. Conversely, the cunning and ruthless Cao Cao provides a compelling, multifaceted antagonist, making the reader question the nature of heroism and villainy. Luo's narrative is imbued with themes of loyalty, strategy, and the fleeting nature of power, echoing the complexities of human nature and governance. The intricate battle strategies and political maneuvers are not only thrilling but also educational, revealing ancient Chinese military and philosophical wisdom. The prose, while dense and occasionally meandering, is often poetic and profound, offering moments of introspection amidst the chaos of war. The episodic structure allows for varied pacing, with intense battles interspersed with reflective dialogues and poignant moments of camaraderie. However, modern readers might find the text's length and the multitude of characters daunting. Additionally, the translation quality can significantly affect accessibility and enjoyment, with some versions preserving the beauty of the original language better than others. Overall, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is a monumental work that captures the essence of a pivotal period in Chinese history. Its blend of history, myth, and moral complexity makes it a must-read for those interested in epic storytelling and the enduring lessons of the past.

Ce livre me tombe des mains, personnages et événements sans linéarité. Présenté comme une pierre d'angle de la littérature et de l'histoire de la Chine... très usurpé

You will never read another book like it. Part myth, part historical document, all bonkers. Exemplifying the Chinese love of reinventing their own history, this book is a kind of compendium of tales and legends, historical accounts of battles and gruesome details of murders and massacres (kids included), almost all within the lifetimes of a handful of central characters who you will grow to love, hate or become fascinated by - or at least, if you believe the depictions found in this book. Don't be disappointed when you discover how loosely it is based on facts, with many of the most fantastic and emotive stories widely believed to be little more than folktales, and some characters invented entirely. Despite that, the overall narrative of the rise and fall of whole dynasties is real and most of the events and people featured really did exist - though who they truly were, we may never know. Also real is the impact the book has had on Chinese culture and the Chinese people for almost a millenium, making it a fascinating study of how a nation reflects and projects its own image, and reinvents its heroes and villains for future generations. In short, well worth reading. If you can't handle history books you might struggle with some of the drier sections, but if you like gruesome tales you have only to skip forward a few pages to the next beheading or slaughter of an entire household to quench your appetites. Conversely, if you haven't the stomach for blood and guts, well, best of luck, as this book doesn't pull its punches.

Book was delivered torn. I was careful to cut open the package. The bubble wrap is intact so the tear could have already been there before item was rven packed.