Herbert Allen Giles was a British diplomat and author who focused on China and the Far East. His extensive experience in diplomatic posts across Asia provided him with unique insights into Chinese culture and society. Giles's writings are characterized by a profound knowledge of the region's history, philosophy, and language. Through his works, he aimed to convey the complexities of Chinese civilization to a Western audience and explore its global impact.
Long considered a masterpiece of the eerie and fantastic, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a collection of supernatural-themed tales compiled from ancient Chinese folk stories by Songling Pu in the eighteenth century