內容簡介
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The Book and the Sword was Louis Cha's first novel, published in 1955. The story has a panoramic sweep which has at its heart a few unbeatable themes: secret societies, kung fu masters, and the sensational rumour so dear to Chinese hearts that the great Manchu Emperor Qian Long was not in fact a Manchu but a Han Chinese, a line of descent that came about as a result of a 'baby swap' on the part of the Chens of Haining in Southern China. It mixes in the exotic flavours of central Asia, a lost city in the desert guarded by wolf packs, and the Fragrant Princess. This lady is an embellishment of an actual historical figure-although whether she actually smelled of flowers, we will never know.
A RIP-ROARING TALE OF CHINESE KUNG FU MASTERS BATTLING IT OUT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE, AND FOR CONTROL OF CENTRAL ASIA. CHINA'S MOST POWERFUL SECRET SOCIETY PITS ITSELF AGAINST THE MANCHU COURT. VIRTUE AND EVIL FIGHT OVER THE DELICIOUS MUSLIM BEAUTY, THE FRAGRANT PRINCESS.
A DEAD CITY IN THE DESERT, WOLF PACKS, A BOOK, AND, OF COURSE, A SWORD...
'Helmsman Chen,' he shouted. 'Let Lord Fu go and we will allow you to leave the city peacefully.'
'What does the Emperor say?' Chen shouted back.
Qian Long's cheeks were painful and badly swollen like overripe peaches as a result of Chen's blows, but seeing his beloved son in the hands of the enemy, he could only gesture and say: 'Let them go, let them go.'
'Lord Fu will see us out of the city,' said Chen. Then, looking Qian Long straight in the eye, he announced in a loud voice: 'All the common people under Heaven would be happy to eat your flesh and make a quilt of your skin. If you live another hundred years, may they be a hundred years of days filled with fear and torment, a hundred years of sleepless nights!' He turned to the Red Flower heroes. 'Let's go,' he said.
'Utterly fascinating. For me, kung fu always used to be Bruce Lee and Enter the Dragon, which were amusing but unbelievable. Book and Sword makes it more alive, more possible and, yes, more relevant.'
'The Lord of the Rings meets The Magnificent Seven in an Oriental setting! Graham Earnshaw's translation of this popular kung fu classic whirls you on a breathtaking carousel ride of adventure, romance and humour as swordsmen and sorcerers battle it out in China's Wild West, but this is not all blood and guts and derring do. The whole romance is underpinned by a profound philosophy. This is Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or Hero brought thrillingly to the page.'
A RIP-ROARING TALE OF CHINESE KUNG FU MASTERS BATTLING IT OUT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE, AND FOR CONTROL OF CENTRAL ASIA. CHINA'S MOST POWERFUL SECRET SOCIETY PITS ITSELF AGAINST THE MANCHU COURT. VIRTUE AND EVIL FIGHT OVER THE DELICIOUS MUSLIM BEAUTY, THE FRAGRANT PRINCESS.
A DEAD CITY IN THE DESERT, WOLF PACKS, A BOOK, AND, OF COURSE, A SWORD...
'Helmsman Chen,' he shouted. 'Let Lord Fu go and we will allow you to leave the city peacefully.'
'What does the Emperor say?' Chen shouted back.
Qian Long's cheeks were painful and badly swollen like overripe peaches as a result of Chen's blows, but seeing his beloved son in the hands of the enemy, he could only gesture and say: 'Let them go, let them go.'
'Lord Fu will see us out of the city,' said Chen. Then, looking Qian Long straight in the eye, he announced in a loud voice: 'All the common people under Heaven would be happy to eat your flesh and make a quilt of your skin. If you live another hundred years, may they be a hundred years of days filled with fear and torment, a hundred years of sleepless nights!' He turned to the Red Flower heroes. 'Let's go,' he said.
'Utterly fascinating. For me, kung fu always used to be Bruce Lee and Enter the Dragon, which were amusing but unbelievable. Book and Sword makes it more alive, more possible and, yes, more relevant.'
GARETH POWELL, AUTHOR AND PUBUSHER
'The Lord of the Rings meets The Magnificent Seven in an Oriental setting! Graham Earnshaw's translation of this popular kung fu classic whirls you on a breathtaking carousel ride of adventure, romance and humour as swordsmen and sorcerers battle it out in China's Wild West, but this is not all blood and guts and derring do. The whole romance is underpinned by a profound philosophy. This is Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or Hero brought thrillingly to the page.'
ADAM WIWAMS, AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLING PALACE OF HEAVENLY PLEASURE