Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, translated and annotated by Herbert A. Giles in 1880, is a selection of more than 160 of the tales in Pu Songling's Liaozhai Zhiyi, written in the late seventeenth century and one of the most loved works of Chinese literature. Here are fox spirits who become devoted wives, ghosts who sit the civil service examinations, Taoist priests with magical arts, painted walls that come to life, talking pupils, judges from the underworld and scholars who marry flower fairies, told with an economy and a dry humor that Giles's Victorian English catches well. His introduction gives Pu Songling's own preface and an account of his life, and his notes explain Chinese customs for Western readers. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first story is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) by Songling Pu can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) online?
Yes. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) in the public domain?
Yes. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) by Songling Pu is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Herbert Allen Giles. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)?
About 14 h 41 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)?
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2) by Songling Pu is filed under "Short Stories" in the Vinteuil library.
