The Chinese Lake Murders by Robert van Gulik

VAN GULIK, Robert. The Chinese Lake Murders: Three Cases Solved by Judge Dee – Uncorrected Proof Copy. London, Michael Joseph, 1960.

Uncorrected proof of the first edition of these Judge Dee mysteries, with exquisite illustrations by the author.

‘When a judge is seated behind his scarlet bench, his is the power of Heaven, over life and death – but not Heaven’s knowledge…’.

The Chinese Lake Murders comprises three mysteries featuring the semi-fictional character Judge Dee, loosely inspired by the Tang magistrate and statesman Di Renjie (630-700). Initially aimed at a Japanese or Chinese readership, it was written around the same time as The Chinese Bell Murders but remained unpublished for several years.

Robert van Gulik was a Dutch orientalist and diplomat.

Octavo, pp. 270, with 12 plates drawn by the author in Chinese style; very good; original cream wrappers printed in black to front cover and spine (wrappers slightly soiled, some creasing to spine).