The Poems of Li Shangyin

Li Shangyin wrote the most mysterious poems of the Tang: untitled love poems, allusive and sensual. Full of jade, mist, silkworms and candles, his poems hint at secret love, court politics and grief, and have tantalised readers for a thousand years. This is a complete new English translation, with names in modern pinyin and the text rendered as plain, readable English prose. Each poem is given in clear English that keeps its images and its order of lines, so readers can follow the poet's thought without notes. Poetry was the highest art of traditional China, written by emperors, officials, monks, courtesans and soldiers, and these poems are among the finest ever written in any language. It is an ideal book for curious readers who want to explore Chinese literature and thought beyond the few famous titles, in a clear modern English version.