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A review by daybreak
Outlaws of the Marsh by Luo Guanzhong, Shi Nai'an
I read 1262 pages of this book before finally admitting to myself that this was anymore would simply be a waste of time that wouldn't be bringing me anything.
This is said to be one of the 4 great classics of Chinese litterature and after reading this, I am absolutely appalled by that statement.
I found virtually no literary value here. For the benefit of doubt, I will chalk it all up to the translation but even then I'm incredibly dubious. The writing is dry as scorched earth, the story repetitive and frankly uninteresting and the themes... The themes and messages here leave me absolutely confounded.
I am personally baffled at this book and how it is marketed. This book is praised as the Chinese Robin Hood story; the blurb mentions Chinese citizens who are disillusioned with corrupt governments and turn to banditry to fight against the system. I don't know if people actually read this book because this is absolutely a thousand li away from the truth.
This book is about people who turn to banditry. That's it. These people are not Robin Hood equivalents: they do not aim or help the common people. Actually, in truth, they kill innocent people and very often turn to banditry after harming innocent people. What's worse: the author tries to spin all the actions of the bandits in a positive light, even when said actions are absolutely disgusting and wrong. Ohh bandit steals the food and beats an innocent person? Oh, well all is forgiven because he is the famous X from X province; quick, kowtow and show your respect. Shi Xiu steals a rooster then burns down a man's tavern when confronted? Oh well no the actual person to blame is the tavern owner: we now have reason to lead and war and kill the whole Zhu Family who suddenly become terrible oppressors for some unexplained reason.
I will give this book the benefit of the doubt: both in terms of the writing and the moral values. Maybe there is a cultural chasm that cannot be filled here. However, with my ethical and moral beliefs, I found the bandits and their actions often despicable and cannot fathom the use of "chivalrous" and "gallant" when it comes to them (can we talk about the times they set fire to people's homes to force them to join them and suddenly all is well?). Like another reviewer rightly said, the only value they have is in their loyalty to each other...
Their is no fight against corruption or injustice here: the bandits themselves are terribly corrupted, honourless and unjust. The only thing that I retain is that there is one truth in their world: power.
I was really tempted in giving a one star rating to this. I restrained myself since I haven't read the whole book but what I've read, I would definitely have rated only 1 star. I still keep hope in the 3 other classics: hopefully, I'll find better there...
This is said to be one of the 4 great classics of Chinese litterature and after reading this, I am absolutely appalled by that statement.
I found virtually no literary value here. For the benefit of doubt, I will chalk it all up to the translation but even then I'm incredibly dubious. The writing is dry as scorched earth, the story repetitive and frankly uninteresting and the themes... The themes and messages here leave me absolutely confounded.
I am personally baffled at this book and how it is marketed. This book is praised as the Chinese Robin Hood story; the blurb mentions Chinese citizens who are disillusioned with corrupt governments and turn to banditry to fight against the system. I don't know if people actually read this book because this is absolutely a thousand li away from the truth.
This book is about people who turn to banditry. That's it. These people are not Robin Hood equivalents: they do not aim or help the common people. Actually, in truth, they kill innocent people and very often turn to banditry after harming innocent people. What's worse: the author tries to spin all the actions of the bandits in a positive light, even when said actions are absolutely disgusting and wrong. Ohh bandit steals the food and beats an innocent person? Oh, well all is forgiven because he is the famous X from X province; quick, kowtow and show your respect. Shi Xiu steals a rooster then burns down a man's tavern when confronted? Oh well no the actual person to blame is the tavern owner: we now have reason to lead and war and kill the whole Zhu Family who suddenly become terrible oppressors for some unexplained reason.
I will give this book the benefit of the doubt: both in terms of the writing and the moral values. Maybe there is a cultural chasm that cannot be filled here. However, with my ethical and moral beliefs, I found the bandits and their actions often despicable and cannot fathom the use of "chivalrous" and "gallant" when it comes to them (can we talk about the times they set fire to people's homes to force them to join them and suddenly all is well?). Like another reviewer rightly said, the only value they have is in their loyalty to each other...
Their is no fight against corruption or injustice here: the bandits themselves are terribly corrupted, honourless and unjust. The only thing that I retain is that there is one truth in their world: power.
I was really tempted in giving a one star rating to this. I restrained myself since I haven't read the whole book but what I've read, I would definitely have rated only 1 star. I still keep hope in the 3 other classics: hopefully, I'll find better there...