Three Hundred Tang Poems (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series)

Ancient Chinese poetry is, in my opinion, the best poetry ever written. The combining of nature, human emotion and timeless beauty are soul soothing.

The book arrived in good shape.

This small clothbound treasure contains the timeless words of the great Chinese poets of the Tang dynasty 1,500 years ago. The moon? Drinking wine? Travels through forests and mountains? Quiet moments of reflection, wisdom and wry humor. It is all here. I read different translations. These are quiet and elegant.

This little book is compact enough to slip into a purse, yet has enough poems in it for nearly every day of the year. Some are a few pages long and others quite short, but they're all beautiful. The subject matter still feels very relevant in today's world, even though these poems were written 2,000 years or so ago. Some of the subjects covered include friendship, aging, and (of course) love. This would make a nice stocking stuffer or hostess gift.

What a wonderful new world to me! I am woefully ignorant of all things Chinese, but this little gem of a book is a treasure chest to be opened to any page to find delight. The poems are short, compact, and easily readable in Peter Harris' skilled translation. There are some brief notes at the back but I think the best way to read poetry is simply to slow down and allow one's self to be taught and delighted by each line. With this book and all others The Everyman's Library Pocket Poets series is a gift to humanity. The handy little volumes fit easily into a purse or a coat pocket, less so in jeans, but easily readable despite their compactness. Did you know that tradition says that Li Po (or Li Bai), one of the best-known Tang poets, is said to have fallen into the water and drowned while trying to embrace the moon? This is probably not true, but it is a good yarn and reminds me of some of my disreputable family.

In Chinese culture poems tell a story. This book, a collection of poems from 700AD tells a story of the time and shows how close humans are, no matter the culture.

Insight into a time gone by.

The beauty and simplicity of the Tang poems is unmatched. This handy volume is as easy to grab any time for a brief relaxing read as it is for a long leisurely afternoon with some gentle thoughtful writers. Treat yourself!

Great selection of poems in a small high quality book.

I thought there will be Chinese original with English translation but I misunderstood and there's only English.

I first discovered the poetry of the Tang dynasty in my teenage years, thanks to three volumes in the Penguin Classics series. This anthology, however, was unknown to me, since it has been unavailable in English translation for many years. This new translation, therefore, is most welcome, and is sure to delight any lover of this wonderful period of literary creativity.

I had never really read any Chinese poetry before buying this book, but I am so glad I did. The imagery created by the poets is so different from Western traditions and is very refreshing as well as beautiful. The book is well-presented and is a perfect size for fitting into pockets, and I was able to take it with me to read on the train (feeling very intellectual as I did so). The poems themselves are organised by poet and then by style, with a short introduction at the front to explain the differences between the forms. Altogether a fascinating sight into the history of another culture and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I don't read Chinese, but with that caveat these translations read very well for me. You get 300 poems in a pocketable book for not much money. If you want an introduction to Chinese poetry I would buy it.