This is one of a series of five detective stories set in 7th century China when the judge was also the detective. Judge Dee has three murders to solve and there is an obvious suspect who everyone wants to put on trial, but Judge Dee is suspicious and manages to track down the real murderer.
Robert H van Gulik Book order (chronological)
Robert Hans van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat renowned for his Judge Dee mysteries. His literary journey began with a translation of an eighteenth-century Chinese murder mystery, leading him to create new adventures for Judge Dee, a character inspired by a seventh-century historical figure. Van Gulik's work seamlessly blends historical intrigue with compelling detective narratives. Beyond his celebrated fictional cases, he also authored scholarly works focusing on Chinese history.
Trois affaires criminelles résolues par le Juge Ti
- 311 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Les amateurs d'énigmes connaissent fatalement le juge Ti et sa coiffe noire de magistrat intègre, tel que nous l'a dépeint le diplomate hollandais Robert Van Gulik dans plusieurs livres. Mais, originellement, il existait un récit racontant les trois affaires résolues par le juge Ti que Van Gulik entreprit de traduire, avant d'inventer une suite aux investigations du Maigret chinois, tel qu'il fut décrit dans un texte anonyme du XVIIIè siècle. C'est un régal !
Rechter Tie - 07-05: Meer van Mien-yuan
- 199 pages
- 7 hours of reading
This is a detective novel set in Imperial China. It is a work of fiction based on the real character of Judge Dee (Ti Jen-chieh or Di Renjie), a magistrate and statesman of the Tang court, who lived approximately 630-700 A.D.
Sexual Life in Ancient China
- 392 pages
- 14 hours of reading
Robert van Gulik is known for his famous detective stories set in medieval China featuring Judge Ti. However, he was also a significant orientalist and diplomat. In "Sexual Life in Ancient China," van Gulik explores the Chinese attitude toward sexuality from the earliest records up to 1644, the year the last ethnically Chinese Ming dynasty fell. This engaging and readable work provides insights into the cultural, social, and historical contexts of sexual practices and beliefs in ancient China, reflecting the complexities of human relationships and societal norms throughout the centuries.