ProbablythemostpopularbookinthehistoryoftheFarEast,thisclassicsixteenthcenturynovelisacombinationofpicaresquenovelandfolkepicthatmixessatire,allegory,andhistoryintoarollickingadventure.ItisthestoryoftheroguishMonkeyandhisencounterswithmajorandminorspirits,gods,demigods,demons,ogres,monsters,andfairies.Thistranslation,bythedistinguishedscholarArthurWaley,isthefirstaccurateEnglishversion;itmakesavailabletotheWesternreaderafaithfulreproductionofthespiritandmeaningoftheoriginal.