'Dream of the Red Chamber' judged 'Best Asian novel'

UK newspaper The Telegraph has recently selected 10 of the best Asian novels of all time, with the Chinese novel The Dream of the Red Chamber topping the list.

The newspaper praised the novel and said, "With a cast of more than 400 characters, this episodic novel written in the vernacular rather than classical Chinese tells of two branches of an aristocratic family with a tragic love story at its humane heart."

The A Fine Balance by Indian-born Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry ranked second place, followed by Rashomon and One Thousand and One Nights.

Among the 10 books, except The Dream of the Red Chamber and One Thousand and One Nights, the remaining eight novels are all contemporary novels after 20th century. India winning the most spots with four novels on the list.

Here is the list of the classics.

1. The Dream of the Red Chamber

Cao Xueqin (printed 1791)

The Telegraph："With a cast of more than 400 characters, this episodic novel written in the vernacular rather than classical Chinese tells of two branches of an aristocratic family with a tragic love story at its humane heart. Chairman Mao admired its critique of feudal corruption."

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