There are seven stories in Volume 1.
In "The White Monkey," by Anonymous, a general's honor and self respect are on the line when his wife is kidnapped.
"The Jade Goddess," retold by Lin Yu Tang, is like a fine piece of exquisite porcelain. This wonderful story from the 6th century is a thing of delicate beauty. Will an artist put aside his creative gifts for the sake of love?
"The Canary Murders," by Feng Meng-lung, is a twelfth century forerunner ofthe detective story which attempts to sort out a string of mysterious deaths.
"The Book Worm," by P'u Sung-ling is a humorous satire about a bibliophile who suddenly finds love.
In "K'ung I-Chi," by Lu Hsun, an old-fashioned scholar loses his way in life.
In "Mr. Pan In Distress," by Yeh Shao-Chun, war threatens the settled life of a provincial educator.
"Intoxicating Spring Nights," by Yu Ta-fu, is a look at the effects of a newly industrialized society.
Volume 2 contains seven classic stories.
Autobiographical in nature, "Passion" by Yuan Chen is the story of a man who wins the love of a woman, only to abandon her.
In "Curly Beard" by Tu Kwang-Ting, when a man vies for power, will he eschew his attempt when he realizes the Fates are not on his side?
In "Wine and Dumplings" by Feng Meng-lung, the most unlikely of men is called to a position of honor.
"Madam D" by Lien Pu is probably the most perfect tale of repressed desire and feminine longing ever written.
In the remarkable fable, "The Wolf of Chungshan" by Hsieh Liang, we understand more fully the maxim "kill or be killed."
"Spring Silkworms" and "Autumn Harvest" by Mao Tun are two poignant stories that actually form one long narrative about a peasant in modern China whose commitment to honor and devotion to tradition runs headlong into the behemoth of modernism.
