Shangyin Li Books

A one-of-a-kind collection of work by little-known Late Tang poetic master Li Shangyin. Li Shangyin is one of the foremost poets of the late Tang, but until now he has rarely been translated into English, perhaps because the esotericism and sensuality of his work set him apart from the austere masters of the Chinese literary canon. Li favored allusiveness over directness, and his poems unfurl through mysterious images before coalescing into an emotional whole. Combining hedonistic aestheticism with stark fatalism, Li’s poetry is an intoxicating mixture of pleasure and grief, desire and loss, everywhere imbued with a singular nostalgia for the present moment. This pioneering, bilingual edition presents Chloe Garcia Roberts’s translations of a wide selection of Li’s verse in the company of other versions by the prominent sinologist A. C. Graham and the scholar-poet Lucas Klein.

This collection includes four unique poetry pamphlets from Spring 2014, showcasing a diverse range of themes and styles. Each pamphlet highlights the distinct voice of its featured poet, offering readers an opportunity to explore fresh perspectives and innovative expressions in contemporary poetry. Ideal for poetry enthusiasts seeking to discover new talents, this pack represents a vibrant snapshot of the poetic landscape during that season.

Proudly part of the New Directions Poetry Pamphlets, a classical Chinese poet considered one of the great masters