The Book of Ladies
by Zhao Junhui
The novel is about the story of woman. In the form of Nvshu, a female script, the protagonist Hongdou has confided in Furong, her childhood friend as well as rival in love, thereby narrating her happiness and sorrow against the background of family crisis and turbulent times. The touching and tragic love is perfectly depicted through the whispers between women. In the meanwhile, the novel can also be regarded as local records by means of which the readers can catch a glimpse of the collusion among the officials, bandits and salt merchants a century ago.
