The Lakeside Case
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Summary
Editor's review
The story centers on a strange case involving the death of an official in the Huzhou region. In the investigation, Judge Dee unravels the threads one by one, displaying his keen insight and his integrity in not fearing power. Unlike traditional court-case stories that pursue merely bizarre plots, the cases in van Gulik's hands pay more attention to portraying characters' psychology and depicting social conditions. While following Judge Dee through the mystery, readers can also immerse themselves in a meticulous recreation of Tang dynasty officialdom, urban life, and even the judicial system. This rich historical texture and humanistic concern are the unique value that lifts the novel beyond ordinary detective stories.
In terms of reading experience, The Lakeside Murder Case has a well-paced rhythm and a prose style that is simple and elegant. It satisfies readers' core expectations of suspense and puzzle-solving while offering abundant cultural detail as a lingering pleasure. For readers familiar with the Judge Dee series, this work is an important link in consolidating their understanding of Judge Dee's character; for new readers, it stands alone and is also an excellent starting point for entering van Gulik's literary world. The Shanghai Translation Publishing House edition reads smoothly and preserves the original's style well; it is worth recommending.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who enjoy classical detective fiction and historical mystery
- History and culture enthusiasts interested in Tang dynasty society and historical detail
- Readers who want tightly structured stories with meticulous logical deduction
- Readers who appreciate narratives blending Eastern and Western cultures
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast-paced, highly stimulating modern suspense
- Readers impatient with classical literary language and slow-burning narratives
Reading tips
- While reading, pay some attention to the notes on Tang official titles, place names, and customs; they help in understanding the background.
- Read this alongside other works in the series to better appreciate the growth of Judge Dee's character and the overall arc of the series.
- Beyond enjoying the deduction, take pleasure in the author's subtle commentary, through the cases, on human nature and the ancient judicial system.
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 人物表
- 第一回 刑官抱病手写呓录 县令受邀赴宴花船
- 第二回 夜欢会座中观歌舞 忽惊魂水下现浮尸
- 第三回 行权宜宴席变公堂 听异闻侍女述鬼怪
- 第四回 派亲信夤夜守花船 赴行院彻查得情信
- 第五回 马荣讲述舞姬秘事 张翁被控害命藏尸
- 第六回 书斋内查案寻踪迹 寺庙中验尸惊众人
- 第七回 现男尸又增新谜案 探内情连访旧乡绅
- 第八回 入梁府观鱼听鸟语 招亲随论案讲疑情
- 第九回 独登露台凭栏赏月 夜访韩府惊闻遇劫
- 第十回 俏佳人引路见古迹 小佛堂叙话论今人
- 第十一回 探消息马荣连失意 离县城狄公查舆情
- 第十二回 遇险情官差驱暴众 知根底游民述隐衷
- 第十三回 探家事洪亮遭误会 设陷阱陶干捉伪僧
- 第十四回 张秀才细述奇遭遇 狄县令严审恶鸨母
- 第十五回 捉头领人去楼已空 审走卒未语身先死
- 第十六回 闯江北处处惹骚乱 躲暗处节节胜匪徒
- 第十七回 新妇获救细述命案 狄公苦思终解棋局
- 第十八回 夜半时古宅忽失火 密室内怪客突行凶
- 第十九回 衙中乍现不速之客 府内终获叛乱罪魁
- 第二十回 携众人驾舟闲垂钓 遇水兽揭开旧谜团
- 后记
- 译后记
FAQ
Can I understand The Lakeside Murder Case without having read other works in the series?
Is this book's deductive style closer to Chinese court-case fiction or Western detective fiction?
As a foreigner, was Robert van Gulik accurate in writing Chinese stories?
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About the author
Robert Hans van Gulik (1910–1967) was a Dutch sinologist, diplomat, and novelist. Fluent in more than ten languages and a lifelong devotee of traditional Chinese culture, he wrote such works as The Lore of the Chinese Lute, Erotic Colour Prints of the Ming Period, and a study of Mi Fu's inkstone history. He also wrote the Judge Dee series in English, making Di Renjie known to Western readers as a “Chinese Sherlock Holmes.” His works are often classified as mystery and detective fiction or foreign literature and have also influenced film and television adaptations. Thirty of his works are included here, among them several boxed sets of the Judge Dee novels and individual volumes such as The Chinese Maze Murders, The Chinese Lake Murders, and case collections. Centered on crime-solving in ancient China, these works combine detective interest with detailed depictions of traditional Chinese society, justice, and literati life, and have influenced both Eastern and Western readers.
Zhang Ling is known to readers as the author associated with the translation and compilation of the "Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee" series. Public information about this author is limited, and no clear records are available regarding nationality, dates of birth and death, or an English name. The collection includes twenty-five related works, among them the first, second, and third boxed sets of the series, as well as individual volumes such as The Labyrinth Case, The Lakeside Case, The Golden Case, Chaoyun Temple, and The Case Collection. These works are commonly classified under mystery and detective fiction and foreign literature. Centered on the case-solving adventures of the Tang dynasty official Di Renjie, they feature carefully layered reasoning and a narrative that combines the flavor of traditional Chinese legal cases with exotic imagination, giving them a notable presence among Chinese mystery readers.
