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The Emperor Pearl A Judge Dee Mystery Robert van Gulik 9780226848723 Books

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The Emperor Pearl A Judge Dee Mystery Robert van Gulik 9780226848723 Books

GENERAL COMMENTS ON SERIES
Dutch diplomat and sinologist Robert Hans van Gulik (1910-67) apparently wrote 16 fiction & published 1 translation of the exploits of historical Judge Dee (630-700 AD). He includes a short "Postcript" @ the end of most--worth reading 1st--esp. if it's your 1st one--woodcut type drawings/maps which greatly enhance the volumes and, in most novels, a "Dramatis Personae" list--especially valuable since it's divided up by case (most have 3 cases/book). The Postscript to "The Chinese Nail Murders" describes the author's approach to them--mostly based on old Chinese documents & their conventions towards magistrates--though he modernizes them somewhat. "Judge Dee at Work" includes a valuable chronology with dates. Usually a Magistrate spent ~3 years in a district & was then transferred: Peng-Lai=663-6 AD, Han-Yuan=666-668, Poo-Yang=668-670, Lan-Fang=670-676, Pei-Chow=676-677, and (after promotion) to the Capital=677-700).

THE SERIES INCLUDES:
18 Judge Dee books (in alphabetical order with date): Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (the one translation), The Chinese Bell Murders=668 AD, The Chinese Gold Murders=663, The Chinese Lake Murders=666, The Chinese Maze Murders=670, The Chinese Nail Murders=676, The Emperor's Pearl=668, The Haunted Monastery=666, Judge Dee at Work=663-70, The Lacquer Screen=663, The Monkey & the Tiger=666 & 676, Murder in Canton=681, Murder in Ancient China, Necklace & Calabash, The Phantom of the Temple, Poets & Murder, The Red Pavilion=668, and The Willow Pattern=677. Of the 18 books one is redundant, one is a translation, and the other 16 are fictional works by van Gulik. Interestingly, the 1st fiction books (The Chinese ____ Murders) were written in the order: Bell, Maze, Lake, Nail and Gold, but chronologically (in the fictional world) are ordered: Gold, Lake, Bell, Maze, & Nail. The short stories are chronologically interspersed with the novels.

THIS INDIVIDUAL VOLUME: (Others reviewers have already described the plot)
It's the 16th I've read so far. Like some modern detective novels, the obvious solution is not usually correct and with this one there's an abundance of both suspects and hypotheses as to the culprit. Indeed, some early conclusions are quite incorrect and misleading such that, unlike the other series
works, Dee resorts to a Nero Wolfe type of bluff-confrontation with the suspects, catching the culprit in a trap set by a turtle--so, "slow and steady" won the race. Indeed the favored dragon boat didn't win the race in this novel. As in other Dee novels, the mysteries tie into past crimes--especially missing Imperial items (in this case a pearl, in another bars of gold, etc.). Dee stays within his own district (unlike several other novels) but without his 2 burly lieutenants who are outside the district. His sergeant has a larger part herein. As usual the several separate (according to the Dramatis Personae, are all interrelated. On the other hand, he again employs the King of the Beggars and the wonderful Mongolian Violet Liang who adds humor and spice to this book--it's a shame she didn't have a bigger part IMHO. It's interesting to me that while Dee is a very conservative Confucian and looks down on both Taoism and Buddhism, in this book he seems more accepting of the supernatural and magical realism. Having read 15 of his books prior to this one, I was a bit disappointed at the obvious repetition of themes in this one. Antithetically, I didn't get any quotes for my collection from it. Overall, I liked most of his other works a bit better than this one, but it's still worth reading.

TYPE OF MYSTERY:
Dee stories are more straight mystery vs. action/adventure/thriller, though some action does take place--including personal danger. If you enjoy Golden Age Mysteries (e.g. Sayers, Christie, Marsh, Allingham, Tey), you'll probably enjoy the Dee books--I'll read all. They usually have less social commentary, flowery description, political intrigue, & physical action than contemporary "mysteries" but do provide insightful cultural descriptions/incidents--perhaps why I like them better--though they're not always historically accurate--per van Gulik's Postscripts. Unlike the West, most describe the punishment of the criminals.

OTHER ORIENTAL MYSTERIES:
If you are particularly interested in Oriental mysteries, you might try Ingrid J. (I.J.) Parker's ~11th century Japan Sugawara Akitada mysteries, Laura Joh Rowland's ~18th c. Japan Sano Ichiro mysteries, and/or James Melville's more contemporary Japan Superintendent Otani mysteries.


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The Emperor Pearl A Judge Dee Mystery Robert van Gulik 9780226848723 Books Reviews

R Van Gulik's understanding of the Chinese character of the distant past is amazing. His knowledge of the Imperial system incredible. I first read this book when I was in my 20s. I have re-read it many times since and still appreciate the mystery's solution.
terrific artist. I wish I had her visions
This is my third judge Dee mystery and the first one I hadn't enjoyed. Though it starts with a lot of action it then meanders into a lot of monologues made by the judge spinning different theories of who had done it. Given that it's not a very long story it felt really long and the solution and showdown with the criminal left me unmoved. Read other stories of the judge, I especially recommend the Chinese maze murders .
good story, if you like the Judge Dee mysteries you will like it.
I read most of Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee Mystery series as a youth and loved them. This book will introduce a Westerner to the old ways of justice in China. The reader is immediately engaged in the story and can be fascinated by all the cultural differences of the time such as multiple wives and concubines and how everyone gets along. Anytime there is a pearl at stake, it is exciting. Pearls are mystical. Reminds me of The Pearl by John Steinbeck, even though the story is quite different. Written a long time ago about a time even older, it is a surprise page turner pace. Much more detail than a Charlie Chan mystery. A reader interested in Chinese culture will appreciate this book, as it is full of colorful lore. I enjoyed this even more than when I read it as a youth. Judge Dee investigates a crime as a fine detective and participates in bringing the criminal to justice, kind of Perry Mason style. Mystery fans wanting a Chinese venue will love it.
I am a long time fan of Robert Hans van Gulik's Chinese Detective Judge Dee.
The author, a diplomat, scholar, musician, artist and mystery novel writer has much to recommend him. Many of his scholarly publications are or were 30 years ago considered definitive studies.
His scholarly works included topics from The Chinese lute, to Chinese sexual practices to Chinese art. He was a linguist and enough of an artist to illustrate his Judge Dee Books.

Judge Dee, was an actual Judge or to quote the sources Ti Jen-chieh (c. 630-c. 700), magistrate and statesman of the T'ang court. Van Guik came to know of him via a second hand book relating later stories that had grown up around the crime solving skills and market place story teller-tales that had collected in the name of Judge Dee.

Von Gulik's first effort to translate the Chinese story into a more western version was a private edition. It became so popular that he would ultimately write 18 books in the series, including some short stories.

Part of the attraction of these books was the ongoing problem of bridging the Chinese tradition of judge/detective stories with western traditions. For example in the Chinese traditions
Judges did much of their own investigations. It was believed that they could connect with the spiritual world in such a way that ghosts or spirits would be part of solving the crimes. Taken to extreme, it was believed that the judge could never be wrong, but a major part of his job was explaining to the people of the community how he had divined the answer. A judge who could not explain his solutions might find the locals willing to appeal overly aggressive judgments by rioting against the judge and killing him.

Many of the Judge Dee stories include plot-useful insights into the the non court life of Imperial Chinese, its culture and bureaucracy.

All of the above is missing in this book. It is mercifully short. The version over priced and in content this book lacks charm, or the Van Gulik magic. Too much of the text is given over to elaborate discussions of alternative theories and of course all of these are wrong. It is not too much of a spoiler to say that this is one case that Judge Dee never solves so much as bluffs.

Missing in this book are many of the loyal subordinates that were part of his inner circle of law enforcement officers. Sgt Hoong is present but only barely and mostly serving as a listening board for the ramblings of his normally heroic boss. Missing is anything specifically Chinese. The feel of the setting and of the story is generic, flat and non engaging.

For what is worth the title is a nice example of a MacGuffin. That is according to Merriam Webster an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance.

What this review is intended to convey is that this is not the best of the Judge Dee series.
The entire series is not available in a version; this one could have been skipped.
Van Gulik is a better writer than he is in this book. Get the others.
GENERAL COMMENTS ON SERIES
Dutch diplomat and sinologist Robert Hans van Gulik (1910-67) apparently wrote 16 fiction & published 1 translation of the exploits of historical Judge Dee (630-700 AD). He includes a short "Postcript" @ the end of most--worth reading 1st--esp. if it's your 1st one--woodcut type drawings/maps which greatly enhance the volumes and, in most novels, a "Dramatis Personae" list--especially valuable since it's divided up by case (most have 3 cases/book). The Postscript to "The Chinese Nail Murders" describes the author's approach to them--mostly based on old Chinese documents & their conventions towards magistrates--though he modernizes them somewhat. "Judge Dee at Work" includes a valuable chronology with dates. Usually a Magistrate spent ~3 years in a district & was then transferred Peng-Lai=663-6 AD, Han-Yuan=666-668, Poo-Yang=668-670, Lan-Fang=670-676, Pei-Chow=676-677, and (after promotion) to the Capital=677-700).

THE SERIES INCLUDES
18 Judge Dee books (in alphabetical order with date) Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (the one translation), The Chinese Bell Murders=668 AD, The Chinese Gold Murders=663, The Chinese Lake Murders=666, The Chinese Maze Murders=670, The Chinese Nail Murders=676, The Emperor's Pearl=668, The Haunted Monastery=666, Judge Dee at Work=663-70, The Lacquer Screen=663, The Monkey & the Tiger=666 & 676, Murder in Canton=681, Murder in Ancient China, Necklace & Calabash, The Phantom of the Temple, Poets & Murder, The Red Pavilion=668, and The Willow Pattern=677. Of the 18 books one is redundant, one is a translation, and the other 16 are fictional works by van Gulik. Interestingly, the 1st fiction books (The Chinese ____ Murders) were written in the order Bell, Maze, Lake, Nail and Gold, but chronologically (in the fictional world) are ordered Gold, Lake, Bell, Maze, & Nail. The short stories are chronologically interspersed with the novels.

THIS INDIVIDUAL VOLUME (Others reviewers have already described the plot)
It's the 16th I've read so far. Like some modern detective novels, the obvious solution is not usually correct and with this one there's an abundance of both suspects and hypotheses as to the culprit. Indeed, some early conclusions are quite incorrect and misleading such that, unlike the other series
works, Dee resorts to a Nero Wolfe type of bluff-confrontation with the suspects, catching the culprit in a trap set by a turtle--so, "slow and steady" won the race. Indeed the favored dragon boat didn't win the race in this novel. As in other Dee novels, the mysteries tie into past crimes--especially missing Imperial items (in this case a pearl, in another bars of gold, etc.). Dee stays within his own district (unlike several other novels) but without his 2 burly lieutenants who are outside the district. His sergeant has a larger part herein. As usual the several separate (according to the Dramatis Personae, are all interrelated. On the other hand, he again employs the King of the Beggars and the wonderful Mongolian Violet Liang who adds humor and spice to this book--it's a shame she didn't have a bigger part IMHO. It's interesting to me that while Dee is a very conservative Confucian and looks down on both Taoism and Buddhism, in this book he seems more accepting of the supernatural and magical realism. Having read 15 of his books prior to this one, I was a bit disappointed at the obvious repetition of themes in this one. Antithetically, I didn't get any quotes for my collection from it. Overall, I liked most of his other works a bit better than this one, but it's still worth reading.

TYPE OF MYSTERY
Dee stories are more straight mystery vs. action/adventure/thriller, though some action does take place--including personal danger. If you enjoy Golden Age Mysteries (e.g. Sayers, Christie, Marsh, Allingham, Tey), you'll probably enjoy the Dee books--I'll read all. They usually have less social commentary, flowery description, political intrigue, & physical action than contemporary "mysteries" but do provide insightful cultural descriptions/incidents--perhaps why I like them better--though they're not always historically accurate--per van Gulik's Postscripts. Unlike the West, most describe the punishment of the criminals.

OTHER ORIENTAL MYSTERIES
If you are particularly interested in Oriental mysteries, you might try Ingrid J. (I.J.) Parker's ~11th century Japan Sugawara Akitada mysteries, Laura Joh Rowland's ~18th c. Japan Sano Ichiro mysteries, and/or James Melville's more contemporary Japan Superintendent Otani mysteries.