The Story of the Stone (Barry Hughart)
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| The Story of the Stone | |
 First ed. hardcover dust jacket |
|
| Author | Barry Hughart |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Series | Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox |
| Subject(s) | China -- Fiction |
| Genre(s) | Historical Fiction, Fantastic Fiction |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Publication date | 1988 |
| Media type | Book |
| Pages | 236 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0385246366 |
| OCLC | 17261525 |
| Preceded by | Bridge of Birds |
| Followed by | Eight Skilled Gentlemen Also published in omnibus edition: The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox. |
The Story of the Stone is a novel by Barry Hughart, first published in 1988. It is part of a series set in a version of ancient China that began with Bridge of Birds and continues with Eight Skilled Gentlemen. The story begins on the twelfth day of the seventh moon in the Year of the Serpent 3,339 (A.D. 650).
[edit] Plot summary
The abbot of a humble monastery in the Valley of Sorrows calls upon Master Li and Number Ten Ox to investigate the killing of a monk and the theft of a seemingly inconsequential manuscript from its library. Suspicion soon lands on the infamous Laughing Prince Liu Sheng--who has been dead for about 750 years. To solve this mystery and others, the incongruous duo will have to travel across China, outwit a half-barbarian king, and saunter into Hell itself.
