該系列圖書精選自中國古代經(jīng)典小說名著，為方便外國讀者理解，專門請有關(guān)專家對原著進(jìn)行縮寫改編，內(nèi)容涵蓋原著中有代表性的情節(jié)和故事，通過這些可讀性強的故事傳達(dá)出其中蘊含的中國傳統(tǒng)文化精髓，吸引國外讀者的閱讀和探究興趣，出版后特別受到國外讀者喜愛。
《牡丹亭故事》成功地塑造了一個光彩耀人的藝術(shù)形象杜麗娘。她原是一位典型的閨閣小姐，被三從四德的禮教牢牢地縛住。晚明時期，這樣的女子成千上萬，她們都是封建禮教和偽道學(xué)的犧牲品，其內(nèi)心痛苦與精神壓抑不言而喻。湯顯祖通過離奇的情節(jié)和巧妙的組合，亦真亦幻，亦莊亦諧，創(chuàng)造了一個女子傷春感悟，從陽世到陰間又再回陽世，爭取到婚姻自主的故事。
The Peony Pavilion is one of Tang's \"Four Dreams\" and has traditionally been performed as a Kun opera. The opera tells a romantic love story of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei, with its focuses on love, beauty, relationship, and marriage. This passionate story has always been considered a Chinese national treasure, and continues to resonate with audience everywhere, even in this modern day and age. This book, with plain words, intends to help foreign readers understand the story and appreciate classic Chinese opera.