Product Description

This volume tells the story of the fateful last reign of the Han dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) when the Chinese empire was divided into three warring kingdoms. Writing some 12 hundred years later, the Ming author Luo Guanzhong drew on histories, dramas, and poems portraying the crisis to fashion a sophisticated, compelling narrative that has become the Chinese national epic. This abridged edition captures the novel's intimate and unsparing view of how power is wielded, how diplomacy is conducted, and how wars are planned and fought.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27060 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-29
• Format: Abridged
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 504 pages

Customer Reviews

An Epic beyond proportion!!!
I first got into the Three Kingdoms Era from playing Dynasty Warriors (ok, I admit that's pretty sad). So I got the abridged edition which was much cheaper and read it in under a week, it was so amazing. I just had to buy the complete 5 book set because the abridged version cuts out so many chapters it left me quite unsatisfied, especially near the end.
Words cannot express just how much I loved these books with its tales of heroic deeds, deception and devotion. Cao Cao's stupidity/arrogance is hilarious sometimes. An abridged edition is quite good, as it does cut out some of the 'boring' bits. But then you miss out on some really good chapters. BUY THEM NOW!!!! CAO CAO COMMANDS IT!!!

Wei, Wu & Shu... Let the Battle Commence!!
The book starts with the fall of the Han dynasty, and the rise of a rebel faction called the Yellow scarves. From this we see the rise and fall of various regional lords vying to rule ancient China. Based on the time period of the same name, the book follows the exploits of Three Kingdoms: Wei, led by Cao Cao, Wu, led by the Sun family and finally the Kingdom of Shu, led by the virtuous Liu Bei.
With a cast of characters longer than the wall of China, the reader is immediatly sucked into the vortex that is the struggle for rule of China, from the rise of the Yellow scarves' rebellion And the oath in the Peach garden, to the final showdown between the Kingdom of Wu, and Kingdom of Wei, which would later become the Jin dynasty.
Much of this story is legend...but this much is true, this is a bloody great read, harder to read than some other books from China (i.e.: Outlaws of the Marsh) but its worth every second you spend reading!

Wow
Set in the Era of the Three Kingdoms, this book has everything. A tale of romance, war, heroes; this is a story that has everything! A book that I have not been able to put down, in fact it was this that got me interested in ancient China, You have to get this book whatever types of book you like, this has some of it in here. Buy this book as soon as you can. Although this is the abridged version, it is no less good get this or the full one. If you like this try the Dynasty Warriors series.
The best book ever written.