Project Gutenberg 2006-01-01 Public domain in the USA. 1143 Cao, Xueqin 1715 1763 曹雪芹 Joly, H. Bencraft 1857 1898 Joly, Henry Bencraft Hong lou meng. English Hung Lou Meng, or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel, Book I Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_of_the_Red_Chamber Produced by Juliet Sutherland and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders "Hung Lou Meng, or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, A Chinese Novel, Book I" by Cao Xueqin is a classic Chinese novel likely written during the mid-18th century. The narrative delves into the lives and relationships of the prominent Jia family, intertwining themes of love, social status, and the complexities of human emotions. The protagonist, Jia Yü-ts'un, is introduced in the opening chapters amidst visions and reflections that hint at the deeper, philosophical undertones woven throughout the tale. The opening portion of the novel sets the stage by introducing its primary characters and their world. It begins with the protagonist, Chen Shih-yin, experiencing a vivid dream that initiates a journey of self-exploration and realization. This dream becomes a significant symbol in the narrative, implying connections between spirituality and earthly existence. As Shih-yin contemplates the lives of virtuous women throughout history, he recognizes the errors of his past, reflecting on themes of familial duty and personal regret. Meanwhile, the character Yü-ts'un is introduced as he navigates his humble circumstances while harboring affections for a beautiful maiden, establishing the novel's focus on love and human relationships within the context of societal expectations and familial ties. Overall, the beginning reveals a richly layered narrative that promises both introspective depth and a compelling exploration of character dynamics. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 69.2 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Autobiographical fiction Domestic fiction China -- History -- Qing dynasty, 1644-1912 -- Fiction Cao, Xueqin, approximately 1717-1763 -- Fiction Jia, Baoyu (Fictitious character) -- Fiction PL Text Category: Novels 1137325 2025-07-04T09:13:13.370108 text/html 1137146 2025-01-12T17:26:52.944027 text/html 512944 2025-07-04T09:13:25.984047 application/epub+zip 532151 2025-07-04T09:13:17.136045 application/epub+zip 501034 2025-07-04T09:13:15.686086 application/epub+zip 966298 2025-07-04T09:13:33.177976 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 911329 2025-07-04T09:13:25.018016 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 869225 2022-09-05T04:45:04.236999 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 1066289 2025-07-04T09:13:12.742123 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 1064359 2021-01-02T06:42:33 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 1065939 2021-01-02T06:42:33 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 21671 2025-07-04T09:13:33.314970 application/rdf+xml 23621 2025-07-04T09:13:16.179057 image/jpeg 4443 2025-07-04T09:13:15.931047 image/jpeg 396603 2021-01-02T06:42:34 application/octet-stream application/zip 396551 2021-01-02T06:42:34 application/octet-stream application/zip 506293 2025-07-04T09:13:13.454110 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia