Guanzhong Luo

Alex Dent-Young

Nai'an Shi

John Dent-Young

This is the third volume of a series of the new translation of the Chinese classical novel generally known as "The Water Margin." In this volume, the company of outlaws on Mount Liang continues to grow: a butcher, a blacksmith, a public executioner, a petty thief... and the usual generals defecting from the government forces. Lu Zhishen, the Flowery Monk, and his companions from Twin Dragon Peak reappear and finally join the company, uniting two important strands of the story. Some episodes are relatively light: a tiger is stolen, an innkeeper's favorite rooster is illicitly eaten, Iron Ox is lowered to the bottom of a well and nearly gets forgotten. But in general the mood is darker. The naked bodies of a lecherous wife is carved up, an innocent child is mercilessly dispatched to gain a reluctant recruit. Chao Gai, the leader on Mount Liang, is killed in battle. Song Jiang replaces him, but for how long can he control his unruly forces? Despite the attraction of the life on the marshes, with its rootless freedom and rough code of honor, we are not to forget how the story was launched, when 108 Demon Princes were released in a black cloud. This series of new translation by John and Alex Dent-Young is also the first English translation of the 120-chapter version of "The Water Margin."

The Marshes of Mount Liang: The gathering company

The Marshes of Mount Liang: Iron ox

"The Scattered Flock," the last volume of this new series of translations, contains chapters 91-120 that mark the disastrous end of the 108 heroes. The action in this volume can be divided into three parts: the campaign against Tian Hu, the campaign against Wang Qing and the campaign against Fang La. It is in the last of these that the heroes of Mount Liang begin to die. Their demise is as haphazard and casual as the scattering of the flock of geese when the Prodigy shoots them for mere amusement. The themes of the vanity of human wishes and the emptiness of ambition are prominent throughout.

Alex Dent-Young

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