Title: Chinese Poems

Author: Arthur Wiley

Type: Poetry

Page Count/Review Word Count: 218

Rating: 8/10

This book is interesting, and whilst it’s not necessarily a collectors‘ item, I’m glad it’s part of my collection. Published by Allen & Unwin in London in 1949, it features a large collection of Chinese poetry that has been translated into English by Wiley. With translations, it’s tricky to tell how much of the credit to give to the translator and how much to give to the traditional authors, but I will say that this is a book that Wiley should have been proud of.

The best thing about this is that my copy is pretty old, which makes it a beautiful artefact to hold, as well as to read. I can’t even remember where I got this, and I’m not sure if it’s still in print, but if you’re a fan of traditional poetry styles and/or unique books, then I’d recommend trying to track down a copy. You won’t get me to give up mine, though - I’ve re-read it a couple of times, and whilst I probably won’t read it again in the future, it was well worth it. Turns out that Chinese poets had a lot of talent, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t read it.

Click here to buy Chinese Poems.