Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Porvoo : Helsinki : Juva : WSOY, 1990.
Description
Pen-Lai District, North East China, AD 663. Newly arrived from the Imperial Capital to take up his first post as Magistrate, Judge Dee is at once confronted with three eerie and baffling mysteries which test his analytical and deductive powers to the limit, drawing him along a trail of blood leading to a criminal of boundless ambition -- and to a plot which will rock the vast bureaucracy of the mighty T'ang Empire
User reviews
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Although The Chinese Gold Murders is not the first book published in Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee mysteries, it tells of the beginning of Judge Dee's career as a magistrate. His first appointment takes him to the coastal town of Peng-lai to replace a recently murdered magistrate. His first task is
This is the first book I've read in this series, and it's one that will take some getting used to. The author has patterned this novel after Chinese detective novels, which follow different rules than the Western detective fiction I'm used to. The historical and cultural setting -- China's Tang Dynasty (with elements of the Ming Dynasty) -- is one I'm not very familiar with, and the English translation doesn't flow as well as it might if a native speaker had translated it.
It's probably worth the extra effort for me to read more in this series. The detective is based on a historical person, Di Renjie, who lived in the 7th century. Di is remembered for solving difficult crimes, and he was the hero of some Chinese detective novels, some of which were translated by Robert van Gulik. The author's illustrations are a nice touch to help readers visualize the characters and cultural setting.
Recommended for readers with an interest in historical mysteries and/or Chinese history. Its supernatural elements may appeal to readers who like paranormal fiction.
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to investigate his predecessor's murder. Soon two more cases require his attention: a missing person case involving a newly-married young woman, and another murder.This is the first book I've read in this series, and it's one that will take some getting used to. The author has patterned this novel after Chinese detective novels, which follow different rules than the Western detective fiction I'm used to. The historical and cultural setting -- China's Tang Dynasty (with elements of the Ming Dynasty) -- is one I'm not very familiar with, and the English translation doesn't flow as well as it might if a native speaker had translated it.
It's probably worth the extra effort for me to read more in this series. The detective is based on a historical person, Di Renjie, who lived in the 7th century. Di is remembered for solving difficult crimes, and he was the hero of some Chinese detective novels, some of which were translated by Robert van Gulik. The author's illustrations are a nice touch to help readers visualize the characters and cultural setting.
Recommended for readers with an interest in historical mysteries and/or Chinese history. Its supernatural elements may appeal to readers who like paranormal fiction.
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LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
#3 in the series; not as well developed in character as the later ones, but still quite good.
Judge Dee is tasked with trying to find out who killed his predecessor. But also, all in a day's work, there's a tiger on the loose, a monk is buried in the wrong grave, and there's a ghost floating
Judge Dee is tasked with trying to find out who killed his predecessor. But also, all in a day's work, there's a tiger on the loose, a monk is buried in the wrong grave, and there's a ghost floating
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around. There is never a dull moment; I enjoy watching the unraveling of each of the subplots in these novels. I Show Less
LibraryThing member mcfitz
I've read and enjoyed quite a few of the Judge Dee series. You might think it would be a departure, but these books involved the same components as other historical mysteries: a hero, his sidekicks, a murder (or two), atmosphere and history. The hero and his sidekicks investigate, legwork ensues,
The differences from 'normal' might be that it's an atypical time period and location: 7th century China, during the T'ang dynasty. The hero is an official of the law -- a Magistrate, or local judge. Van Gulik created the books from original tales that were told by storytellers about early detective heroes -- typically Magistrates -- and many that included the "real" Judge Dee.
According to the introduction written by Donald F. Lach in the 1977 Univ. of Chicago Press edition of "The Chinese Bell Murders," Van Gulik idealized the stories somewhat based on his understanding of imperial China, however, so the historical aspects must be taken with some rather large grains of salt...
However, the stories are very good and the characters interesting. Not too much woo-woo, either, for early China. Van Gulik has added some emotion for Western readers (!), and not everyone dies at the end (as in typical Chinese drama), so it's a very satisfying series.
Other authors to try: Laura Joh Rowland, Bernard Cornwell, I. J. Parke
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hero's brainpower triumphs, case solved!The differences from 'normal' might be that it's an atypical time period and location: 7th century China, during the T'ang dynasty. The hero is an official of the law -- a Magistrate, or local judge. Van Gulik created the books from original tales that were told by storytellers about early detective heroes -- typically Magistrates -- and many that included the "real" Judge Dee.
According to the introduction written by Donald F. Lach in the 1977 Univ. of Chicago Press edition of "The Chinese Bell Murders," Van Gulik idealized the stories somewhat based on his understanding of imperial China, however, so the historical aspects must be taken with some rather large grains of salt...
However, the stories are very good and the characters interesting. Not too much woo-woo, either, for early China. Van Gulik has added some emotion for Western readers (!), and not everyone dies at the end (as in typical Chinese drama), so it's a very satisfying series.
Other authors to try: Laura Joh Rowland, Bernard Cornwell, I. J. Parke
Show Less
LibraryThing member jadebird
Beware, these are very addictive books. Once I discovered Judge Dee, I bought the whole series and consumed them all like exotic bon bons.
LibraryThing member rachelhunnell1
Great book about ancient Chinese culture and its judicial system, a must read for any history, world lit, or English class. Very well written, and easy to read perfect for middle school or high school students. The mystery element of the book can be expanded to create an entire lesson about genre.
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The plot and first person narrative provide a perfect way of studying narration styles and the elements of a novel. The characters are very diverse and bring many ideas into the story that could be a platform into discussions about race, class, crime, fantasy, empirical rule, the judicial system then and now. A teacher could create and entire unit off this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think it's a great teaching tool. Show Less
LibraryThing member Condorena
Judge DEE is fashioned after the historical figure of a real Judge Dee, famous in ancient Chinese panels as a scholar and magistrate. Robert van Gulik who was born in the Netherlands and served in the diplomat Service in China and Japan for many years. His interest in Asian languages led him to the
At the beginning of Judge Dee's career when he was 33 years old he obtained his first appointment to a post in the provinces. Dee went to a port city on the north east coast. He was sent to replace a magistrate who had been murdered. The previous investigation of this murder had been cut short for reasons unknown to the Judge. When Judge Dee finally got settled in his new lodgings several cases came to hand. The first was the case of a wife, the second was the case of a missing member of the magistrates court and finally it was the case of the murdered magistrate.
The judge uses his powers of deduction and insight to solve all these puzzles in a very interesting and informative way. I really enjoy the Judge Dee books.
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discovery of Chinese detective novels and to this historical character. This book details how Judge Dee began his career and how he met up with his constant companions who appear in all the subsequent books.At the beginning of Judge Dee's career when he was 33 years old he obtained his first appointment to a post in the provinces. Dee went to a port city on the north east coast. He was sent to replace a magistrate who had been murdered. The previous investigation of this murder had been cut short for reasons unknown to the Judge. When Judge Dee finally got settled in his new lodgings several cases came to hand. The first was the case of a wife, the second was the case of a missing member of the magistrates court and finally it was the case of the murdered magistrate.
The judge uses his powers of deduction and insight to solve all these puzzles in a very interesting and informative way. I really enjoy the Judge Dee books.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1958 (Dutch)
Physical description
223 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
9510016616 / 9789510016619