NewBooks

A Thousand Peaks
POEMS FROM CHINA
By Siyu Liu and Orel Protopopescu, illustrated by Siyu Liu

$19.95

Poetry that spans 2,000 years--from the Han dynasty to the 20th century--is presented here in faithful but inventive and rhythmic translations that capture the astonishing beauty of the original Chinese. The accompanying text describes the world of these poets, the culture that inspired them, and the history that stirred their deepest emotions. The work is enhanced by illustrations that foster an appreciation for the close relationship of poetry to other art forms.

Poetry is so ingrained in Chinese culture that for several thousand years the ability to compose it was considered the mark of an educated person. Included here are 35 "shi" poems in English and Chinese. Classical Chinese shi poems follow strict rules about structure and rhythm. China's poets have created shi for several thousand years. This selection represents both major figures and some lesser-known poets, both male and female. Each poem includes the Chinese characters and pinyin, and the text accompanying the poems places each work in a historical and thematic context.

The text is intended for all children and has evolved from one author's successful classroom experience using Chinese poetry as a means to teach poetry and creative writing to middle-school students. Because the poems are both enjoyable and accessible, they enhance students' appreciation of poetry while providing models with which students can experiment in their own writing.

A book for ages 12 and up.

Hardcover, 52 pages, full color, index, 2002, ISBN 1-881896-24-2, LC 200103008




		A Thousand Peaks POEMS FROM CHINA By Siyu Liu and Orel Protopopescu, illustrated by Siyu Liu $19.95 Poetry that spans 2,000 years--from the Han dynasty to the 20th century--is presented here in faithful but inventive and rhythmic translations that capture the astonishing beauty of the original Chinese. The accompanying text describes the world of these poets, the culture that inspired them, and the history that stirred their deepest emotions. The work is enhanced by illustrations that foster an appreciation for the close relationship of poetry to other art forms. Poetry is so ingrained in Chinese culture that for several thousand years the ability to compose it was considered the mark of an educated person. Included here are 35 "shi" poems in English and Chinese. Classical Chinese shi poems follow strict rules about structure and rhythm. China's poets have created shi for several thousand years. This selection represents both major figures and some lesser-known poets, both male and female. Each poem includes the Chinese characters and pinyin, and the text accompanying the poems places each work in a historical and thematic context. The text is intended for all children and has evolved from one author's successful classroom experience using Chinese poetry as a means to teach poetry and creative writing to middle-school students. Because the poems are both enjoyable and accessible, they enhance students' appreciation of poetry while providing models with which students can experiment in their own writing. A book for ages 12 and up. Hardcover, 52 pages, full color, index, 2002, ISBN 1-881896-24-2, LC 200103008

Author Orel Protopopescu, author, poet, and educator, trains teachers to teach writing and conducts prose and poetry workshops for students of all ages. She is the author of two books for children, Since Lulu Learned the Cancan and The Perilous Pit and a handbook on teaching writing. Her poetry has been published in the Spoon River Poetry Review and Contexts. She lives with her family on Long Island. Author and illustrator Siyu Liu was born in China. She is a graduate of Qinghua University and Jinghua Art School, and holds a M.A. from State University of New York, Buffalo. An architect and artist, she lives on the East Coast with her family. Siyu can be reached via e-mail at sliu@suffolk.lib.ny.us


	Gr 6--10. Much more than a poetry anthology, this introduction to classical Chinese poetry folds 35 traditional shi poems into a brief cultural history of China. The poems are grouped loosely into categories. Many are accessible, celebrating animals and nature, or teaching a simple moral lesson, such as appreciating a farmer’s labor and the food he creates. Other selections are more abstract, centering on complex themes, such as political criticism (including a concubine’s view of battle), that will appeal mostly to older readers. The generally clear, succinct text offers a lot of information in the introduction and in the paragraphs that follow each poem and delve further into poetry’s role in China’s history. The picture-book format and Liu’s watercolor illustrations may suggest a young audience, but it’s middle- and high-school students who will most appreciate this for reports or personal reading. An unusual, informative resource for cross-curricular use. --Gillian Engberg —Booklist, March 1, 2002 For many kids, English poetry is hard enough; Chinese poetry is off their radar screens altogether. This well-planned anthology could bridge the cultural and linguistic gap. Its 35 poems represent 2,000 years of Chinese literary history, from the Han dynasty to Mao Zedong. But they don’t come dead on the page. The book is divided into sections on social structure, scholar-officials and nature--contexts that breathe life into the poems. Each poem also comes with a commentary on its author, topic, or style, and best of all, is shown in the four stages of its evolution from Chinese to English: original Chinese characters, pinyin transliteration, literal English translation and finally a “poetic” English version. From this: “stroke stroke grow dying sunlight/layer layer seem splitting crimson,” Orel Protopopescu made this: From dying sunlight, stroke by stroke, it grows/in layers, as if splitting shades of rose.” That’s a worthy effort, but the real beauty of this book is that it gives readers the chance to peek behind it at the Tang dynasty original--and maybe try their own English versions.” —Washington Post, February 24, 2002 “China's ancient poets lead us on a trip through the region's political and natural history. Impeccable design, detailed translations (including original characters and transliterations) and commentaries offer a unique, fascinating and personal look into a complex history.” —Skipping Stones, January 2002 “Haunting, lyrical poems are intended to delight and fascinate poetry lovers of all ages. Striking, full-color illustrations intersperse the historical poems. . . .What truly sets A Thousand Peaks apart, however, is that the poems themselves are offered in bilingual format: their original Chinese characters, the romanized version of the Chinese words, a very strictly literal translation, and the modern poetic translation that attempts to properly ascribe nuances. Poetry devotees can compare translations and interpret the true meaning, heart, and soul of each poem for themselves.” —Library Bookwatch, January 2002 “Intended to introduce young readers to the beauty of China's traditional poetry, it is also suitable for adult Chinese language learners who can learn the profound meaning of these poems, which are popular among the educators both in Chinese speaking lands and abroad. . . . The book contains illustrations such as beautiful watercolors done in a traditional Chinese painting style and pen and ink drawings with Chinese calligraphy. . . .a very attractive publication.” —National Association for Asian and Pacific American Eduction, Fall 2001 “An authentic introduction to Chinese poetry and culture. Each of the 35 poems, selected from two millennia of Chinese literature and translated into graceful English verse, is placed on its own page in a handsome, open design. Several prose paragraphs offer cultural context for each selection, while a sidebar displays the poem in its original characters, adding their pinyin transliterations and a literal English translation. Small black-and-white drawings that highlight a relevant character complete the page. Different English translators of compressed, allusive classical Chinese have interpreted these well-known poems in various ways. This unique collection invites readers to get into the act by comparing the Chinese original with this version, and perhaps exercising their own poetic skills in an attempt to understand another culture. Introductions to the three thematic sections explain social structure, scholar-officials, and love of nature. A concise, cogent introduction to the Chinese poetry begins the collection and an author’s afterword explains the translation process. . . . This new volume spans the years between the third century Han Dynasty and the Communist era, and features many female poets. It’s about as close to Chinese literature as young English-speaking readers can get.” —School Library Journal, February 2, 2002 "Both the selection of the poems, and the arrangement and presentation of the poems with their accompanying notes and illustrations, show the meticulous care and thoughtfulness of the authors. What the reader may well find most impressive within this little collection lies in the translation into English. Not only is the surface meaning captured for each poem, but also its poetic spirit and quality --- something which can only be accomplished and conveyed by a discerning, skilled, and insightful translator possessed of the requisite cultural, linguistic, and literary sensitivities of both Chinese and English." ----Professor Hua-yuan Li Mowry, Dartmouth College, N.H. "A superbly thought-out thematic organization, page layout of Chinese characters/transliterations, translations, and contextual notes! Could be appreciated by readers of all ages, though apparently intended for a middle-school audience." ----A. Elgin Heinz, Global Education Marin, Ca.