Reading the Records of the Grand Historian - 8
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who already have basic familiarity with the Records of the Grand Historian and wish to deepen their understanding of its historiographical thought and art of writing.
- University students and researchers in literature, history, and philosophy, who may use it as supplementary reading and reference.
- Enthusiasts interested in exploring ancient Chinese historical narrative methods and the spirit of the historian.
- Readers who enjoy reflecting on and engaging in dialogue with scholarly interpretation while reading classics.
Not a good fit for
- Beginning readers seeking a vernacular translation of the Records of the Grand Historian or a simple collection of historical stories.
- Casual readers looking for light, entertaining historical reading.
Reading tips
- It is recommended to read this book alongside the original chapters of the Records of the Grand Historian—first the original text, then the interpretation here—to form your own reflections.
- Keep notes while reading to record the author's key analytical points and your own questions or points of resonance.
- There is no need to finish it in one sitting; you may study it by following the chapter order of the Records, organized by theme and in stages.
About the publisher
Northern Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on contemporary and modern literary and artistic works, literary theory, and translations of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as history, popular science, Eastern philosophy, and world classics. Its collection includes 737 titles, with representative publications ranging from traditional Chinese classics such as Records of the Grand Historian, The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, and The Analects to foreign literary works including the complete classic plays of Shakespeare, Balzac's Old Goriot and Eugénie Grandet (in celebrated translations by Fu Lei), and The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Its author resources span classical figures such as Sima Qian, Song Yingxing, and Confucius, foreign writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, and translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Fu Lei. The press combines the transmission of classics with an orientation toward general reading, developing a distinctive profile in both the editing of traditional texts and the translation of foreign literature. Public information is limited, so the above emphasizes the publishing profile reflected in the books held in the collection.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 好将军，坏命运 飞将军李广的故事
- 草原之狼 匈奴的故事
- 帝国双子星 卫青和霍去病的故事
- 大文豪的多面人生 司马相如的故事
- 社稷之臣 汲黯的故事
- 清廉的酷吏 张汤的故事
- 世界那么大，跟我去探险 张骞通西域的故事
- 被“粉丝”害死的大侠 郭解的故事
- 你好，祖师爷 东方朔的故事
- 我是历史的记录者 司马迁的故事
FAQ
Is this book a full translation or annotation of the Records of the Grand Historian?
Do I need to read the entire Records of the Grand Historian first to understand this book?
What is distinctive about this book's interpretive approach?
Comments
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About the author
Yang Yanqi is an author who writes primarily on historical subjects. Publicly available information about him is limited, and his life, education, and professional positions remain unclear. Judging from the seven works recorded in the library, his writing centers on the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian). His representative work is the eight-volume Reading the Shiji series, which also includes the individual volumes Reading the Shiji 1 through 5, Reading the Shiji-7, and Reading the Shiji-8, indicating that he interprets this biographical general history systematically in separate volumes. Such works are usually aimed at general readers, focusing on turning the original content into readable narratives that help readers understand the figures and events recorded in the Shiji. Yang Yanqi's approach tends toward popularization rather than rigorous academic textual research, making his books suitable as introductory historical reading. Because the available information is limited, the specific reception of his works among scholars and in the market cannot be determined, but the continued publication of these volumes suggests a certain systematic quality in his organization and retelling of the Shiji, offering ordinary readers convenient access to this classic.
Han Zhaoqi is one of the more prolific authors in the field of Chinese book publishing, with nineteen works included in the collection. His editorial work centers mainly on classical Chinese poetry and Eastern philosophical classics. It includes annotated and appreciative editions of poetry anthologies such as Three Hundred Tang Poems and Three Hundred Song Ci Poems, as well as fully annotated, translated, and phonetically glossed editions of pre-Qin classics, including the Book of Songs, the Songs of Chu, the Analects, Mencius, and the Great Learning and Doctrine of the Mean. He has also compiled historical readers such as Classical Chinese Articles by Top Imperial Examination Graduates: A Chinese-Vernacular Bilingual Edition. Overall, he focuses on accessible editions for general readers, characterized by detailed annotations, vernacular translations, and phonetic guides that make traditional texts easier to read. Due to limited public information, reliable details about his personal life, nationality, and dates of birth and death are unavailable, so readers may instead understand his editorial style and thematic choices through the works listed above.
