This book investigates the English translations and adaptations of the sixteenth century classic Chinese novelJin Ping Mei. Acclaimed the 'No.1 Marvellous Book' of the Ming dynasty, Jin Ping Meiwas banned soon after its appearance, due to the inclusion of graphically explicit sexual descriptions. So far there have been more than a dozen English adaptations and translations of the novel. Working within the framework of descriptive translation studies, this book provides a translational history of the English versions ofJin Ping Mei, supported by various paratexts, including book covers, reviews, and archival materials. It also conducts textual comparisons to uncover the translation norms at work in the only two complete renditions, namelyThe Golden Lotusby Clement Egerton andThe Plum in the Golden Vaseby David Roy, respectively. The notions of agency, habitusand capital are introduced for the examination of the transference of linguistic, literary and cultural aspects of the two translations. The book represents the first systematic research effort on the English Translations ofJin Ping Mei. Given its pioneering status and interdisciplinary nature, the data, structure and findings of this book will potentially enrich the fields of Translation Studies, Comparative Literature, Chinese Studies, Cultural Studies and Book History. | Jin Ping Mei English Translations by Lintao Qi, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters