乐史

Le Shi was the author of classical Chinese tales and miscellaneous biographical notes, and his life is now difficult to trace, with limited publicly available information. Judging from the five works held in the collection, his writing drew largely on historical figures and anecdotes, combining accounts of the strange with miscellaneous records and touching on court gossip, legends of women, and compilations of marvels. His representative work, Yang Taizhen Waizhuan, elaborates the story of Yang Guifei in detailed language and intricate plot, and became an important source for later drama and fiction; Lü Zhu Zhuan, on the deeds of Lü Zhu, is likewise notable for its narrative skill. Guang Zhuo Yi Ji leans toward collecting strange and remarkable tales, reflecting his broad and eclectic approach. These works are generally classed under culture, classic works, and literary appreciation; they are short but strongly narrative and offer a useful reference for understanding the evolution of classical tale-telling.