Poetry. Asian Studies. Translated by Red Pine. True to his reputation as one of the world's leading translators of Chinese, Red Pine (a.k.a. Bill Porter) translates 175 of Wei's poems and demonstrates why he is "one of the world's great poets." Presented in a bilingual Chinese-English format, with extensive notes and an informative introduction, In Such Hard Times is a long-overdue world premiere. Wei Ying-wu is considered one of the great poets of the T'ang Dynasty, ranked alongside such poets as Tu Fu, Li Pai, and Wang Wei. Strangely, though, only a handful of Wei Ying-wu's poems have ever been translated into English. "[Translator] Red Pine's out-of-the-mainstream work is uncanny and clearheaded"--Kyoto Journal.

Author Hometown: Chang'an CHI



About the author: Wei Ying-wu (737-791) is considered one of the great poets of the T'ang Dynasty. Born into an aristocratic family in decline, Wei served in several government posts without distinction. He disdained the literary establishment of his day and fashioned a poetic style counter to the mainstream: one of profound simplicity centered in the natural world.

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