Author Description

The essays, commentaries and poems (in translation) in this book reflect the variety of the author's interests. He is a senior Melbourne barrister of paternal Greek origin who has a deep and continuing interest in China and its language; and the classical history of both of these countries.Translations of Ma Zhiyuan's poetry. He lived (1250-1321) at a time when China, for the first time in its history, came under the complete control of an alien regime - the Mongols. Among his achievements is the development and popularising of the new san qu lyric form of poetry. It was a fascinating time in Chinese history and Ma Zhiyuan's verse is a quite marvellous reflection of the period as well as being beautiful and informative in its own right.