The Haunted Monastery by Robert van Gulik

VAN GULIK, Robert. The Haunted Monastery: A Chinese Detective Story. Kuala Lumpur, Art Printing Works, 1961.

First edition, very scarce, of this Judge Dee mystery taking place in a Taoist monastery, with exquisite illustrations by the author.

‘It’s the largest Taoist monastery in the entire province, and many people visit it during the religious feasts. I am sure they’ll have good quest quarters…’.

The Haunted Monastery features the semi-fictional character Judge Dee, loosely inspired by the Tang magistrate and statesman Di Renjie (630-700). After the publication of The Chinese Nail Murders in the same year, Van Gulik encountered reluctance from his London publisher Michael Joseph to publish another title. Consequently, he opted to privately publish The Haunted Monastery through the Art Printing Works in Kuala Lumpur.

Robert van Gulik was a Dutch orientalist and diplomat.

Octavo, pp. 168, with 8 plates drawn by the author in Chinese style; very good; original card wrappers, front wrapper and spine yellow lettered in red and white, front wrapper illustrated by the author, rear wrapper white lettered in black, illustrated flyleaves (wrappers slightly soiled and creased, edges a little rubbed, spine lightly sunned).