A Lute of Jade : Selections from the Classical Poets of China

"A Lute of Jade: Selections from the Classical Poets of China" by L. Cranmer-Byng is a collection of English versions of classic Chinese poems, probably put together in the early 1900s, spotlighting famous poets, mostly from China's Tang dynasty, a time known for its amazing writing. It looks at ideas like affection, sorrow, the environment, and deep thoughts about life, all shown through imaginative Chinese poems and verse. The book starts with an introduction that explains Chinese poetry by giving some history, talking about how poems changed over time to become the well-known works of the Tang dynasty. Cranmer-Byng points out important poets like Li Po and Tu Fu, examining their feelings and lives, which often involved political drama, personal disappointments, and magnificent landcapes. It gives hints about the style of writing and the cultural effects that helped make Chinese literature what it was, encouraging people to truly understand the skill and meaning of these old poetic voices, implying that the poems can connect with people's emotions and their minds both.