The Haunted Monastery. A Chinese Detective Story -
Robert H. Van Gulik
1963 - Heinemann, London - First English Edition (First published by Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur, 1961)
A superior first edition of the seventh book in the Judge Dee series, and chronologically eighth tale, being set in China 677 AD.
With eight illustrations and one plan from woodblock prints by Van Gulik in Chinese style, and endpapers illustrated with a Sketch Map of the Monastery.
‘Judge Dee and his entourage, seeking refuge from a mountain storm, become trapped in a Taoist monastery, where the Abbott Jade mysteriously dies after delivering an ecstatic sermon. The monks call it a supernatural experience, but the judge calls it murder’ Dr. Robert Hans Van Gulik (1910-67) got his Ph.D. in Oriental languages at the age of 24, knew fluently about fifteen languages, produced a vast body of sometimes groundbreaking scholarly works on (mainly) Chinese culture, achieved a high proficiency in Chinese calligraphy and in playing the Chinese lute, very much like a mandarin of old times. His collection of Chinese artifacts and rare books merited a specific sale at Christie’s in 1983. Whilst doing all this he rose to become Netherlands ambassador to Japan before retiring, with his pet gibbon.
Written in Beirut between November 22,1958 and the middle of January 1959.
Reference: Van De Wettering, Robert Van Gulik. His Life, His Work. Otto Penzler, ‘Collecting Mystery Fiction’, The Armchair Detective V16 No.1 (March 1983) 75-83.
Small octavo (book size 19.1x12.8cm), pp. vii [1] 160. Publisher’s purple cloth, gilt lettering to spine. Dust jacket designed by Van Gulik, priced ‘15s NET’ to lower front flap. Condition: Near fine, foxing to foredge and outer edges of first few pages, in near fine dust jacket with minor toning and soiling to rear panel. Ref: 111842 Price: HK$ 2,800
With eight illustrations and one plan from woodblock prints by Van Gulik in Chinese style, and endpapers illustrated with a Sketch Map of the Monastery.
‘Judge Dee and his entourage, seeking refuge from a mountain storm, become trapped in a Taoist monastery, where the Abbott Jade mysteriously dies after delivering an ecstatic sermon. The monks call it a supernatural experience, but the judge calls it murder’ Dr. Robert Hans Van Gulik (1910-67) got his Ph.D. in Oriental languages at the age of 24, knew fluently about fifteen languages, produced a vast body of sometimes groundbreaking scholarly works on (mainly) Chinese culture, achieved a high proficiency in Chinese calligraphy and in playing the Chinese lute, very much like a mandarin of old times. His collection of Chinese artifacts and rare books merited a specific sale at Christie’s in 1983. Whilst doing all this he rose to become Netherlands ambassador to Japan before retiring, with his pet gibbon.
Written in Beirut between November 22,1958 and the middle of January 1959.
Reference: Van De Wettering, Robert Van Gulik. His Life, His Work. Otto Penzler, ‘Collecting Mystery Fiction’, The Armchair Detective V16 No.1 (March 1983) 75-83.
Small octavo (book size 19.1x12.8cm), pp. vii [1] 160. Publisher’s purple cloth, gilt lettering to spine. Dust jacket designed by Van Gulik, priced ‘15s NET’ to lower front flap. Condition: Near fine, foxing to foredge and outer edges of first few pages, in near fine dust jacket with minor toning and soiling to rear panel. Ref: 111842 Price: HK$ 2,800