Adventures of the Monkey God

by Georgette Boner (Illustrator), Arthur Waley (Translator), Alison Waley (Editor)

Adventures of the Monkey God, one of China's favourite classics, is the Far East's story of the religions, the philosophies, the legends of the oldest civilisation. Monkey is mankind - full of faults, mischievous, ambitious and vain. But he is also generous, valiant and intrepid. He is delinquent, but also delightful. He cannot resist challenge; he loathes self-pity; above all, he despises despair.

Genres: Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1987

Reviews

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Journey to the West" is a masterpiece of world literature. However, at a dense four volumes, it is somewhat less than accessible for casual readers. Arthur and Allison Waley's classic abridged adaptation, "Monkey: Adventures of the Monkey God" has emerged in the Western world as the essential version of the epic novel. It's hugely abridged, but succeeds as a presentation of the central figure, the Monkey King, as a sort of Peter Pan equivalent- part hero, part trickster, immortal hero and yet eternal child.

[Julie Herringa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A some parts hard to get into, at other points it reads much like a graphic novel made of prose. Lots of action!