The Old Man of the Moon

Penguin describes this edition as a Chinese official’s account of his all-consuming love for his wife, and that pretty much sums up the book. It is also an account of life in China in the 18th century of course, but it is the love story which is at the center of it. There were some touching moments, but overall I thought the style was a bit bleak – part of the essence might have been lost in translation, that is rather difficult for me to judge.