This book starts its journey with BookCrossing from Delphi, Greece
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" Long before Western writers had even conceived the idea of writing detective stories, the Chinese had developed a long tradition of literary works that chronicled the cases of important district magistrates. These judges held a unique position. As "fathers to the people" they were at once judge and detective, responsible for all aspects of keeping the peace and for discovering, capturing, and punishing criminals.

One of the most celebrated historical magistrates was Judge Dee, who lived in the seventh century A.D. This book, written in the eighteenth century by a person well versed in the Chinese legal code, chronicles three of Judge Dee's most celebrated cases, interwoven to form a novel. A double murder among traveling merchants, the fatal poisoning of a bride on her wedding night, and an unsolved murder in a small town under Judge Dee's jurisdiction - these are the crimes. They take Judge Dee up and down the great silk routes, through clever disguises, into ancient graveyards where he consults the spirits of the dead, and through some clever deduction.

After translating Dee Goong An, Robert Van Gulik continued the adventures of Judge Dee in fiction he wrote himself. This, however is the only place where you can find the originals of Judge Dee, the venerable Sergeant Hoong, the treacherous Ma Joong, and the other members of Dee's detective force. As the first publication of Dee Goong An in the United States, this edition makes these cases accessible for the first time.

While the cases are superb for reading, they also show the Chinese system of law enforcement and legal proceedings (which are quite different from Western forms). Van Gulik has provided a thorough introduction and appendix with much information on Chinese detective novels, the Chinese system of justice, and particularly relevant aspects of Chinese law that play a part in these stories. "


~~~~~~To the person who found this book:~~~~~~

Welcome to BookCrossing.com, where we are trying to make the whole world a library!

If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home. Drop a few lines on where and how you found this book and what you thought of it. You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, I encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun and free, and your personal information will never be shared or sold.

This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, although I would love you to read and then share it. You can pass it on someone you know or release it once again in the wild, leaving it on a park bench, a phone booth, a hostel lobby...wherever you think it's suitable for the book to continue it's journey. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it.

I hope you enjoy the book!

I've read other books by Robert van Gulik starring Judge Ti or Dee. This one is (at least according to the author) an almost exact translation from 2-3 almost identical original stories that were probably based on more ancient texts. Lots of speculation here of course, but the book's didactic tone, some supernatural element and its somehow slow pace seems to confirm that it wasn't written for a western, contemporary audience originally. Meanwhile I feel that the author's editing was heavier than he admits.

Anyway, although I got the impression that it was a bit too slow in some places, I enjoyed it as a light read. The "detection" part of the book isn't what wins me over in these Judge Dee stories, actually here it was far too weak/naive. What I enjoy is the completely "alien" setting. Robert van Gulik over-idealizes China, its social structure and the way its state worked/works, etc., but it's interesting to take a look at a completely different society, a different era, a people with different mentality and ethics. And to do so from a safe distance, of course, because it's not an environment I'd really want to live in.

This is a busy time of the year for me with various stuff, so I'm not in a mood for "heavy" reading. I can't stand much silliness on my books either thought.
The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee were exactly what I needed right now. Kind of an easy read, but not completely brainless. A decent choice to pass the time.

Judge Dee got itchy feet and wants to explore the whole wild wide world and make many friends along the way. So it's now crossing the Pond in order to meet one of the winners of my 7th Bookiversary's Celebration Draw.
And then... Who knows?

Good Luck my book and Don't forget to write your news from time to time!

Thank you so much for all of the books and lovely gifts!

I'm a very special book. I'm traveling the world in search of new friends. I hope I have found one in you. If you are my new owner please make a brief journal entry with my BCID number. You can read and release me for a new friend to read or keep me. It's your choice!

If you are new to bookcrossing and want to join please consider listing bamaforever as your referral. Welcome to bookcrossing!

Happy reading!