If you are a reader either of fantasy fiction or a fan of Dumas, Scott, and other 19th century romance-adventure authors (to whom Jin Yong owes a deep debt) then I would heartily recommend this book.
#Legend of the condor heroes book upgrade
Holmwood’s translation is a welcome upgrade from the era of fan translations but comes with a welcome call-back in the form of illustrations from a past Chinese edition of the book. The end result is a text that might prove a challenge to people who are accustomed to either linear structures or the in-media-res – flashback – climax structure preferred in English and American fantasy but, if you can get past the structural alienness of the text, there is an incredibly rewarding book on the other side. We want to see Huang Rong and Guo Jing interacting faster, so we put those scenes before the failed attempt of Ouyang Ke’s retainers to steal his horse: that sort of thing.
#Legend of the condor heroes book tv
Many adaptations of Jin Yong’s work (such as the 2017 TV adaptation of Legend of the Condor Heroes) will gloss over Jin Yong’s frequent asides, and re-order events in order to bring characters into the story more quickly.
![legend of the condor heroes book legend of the condor heroes book](https://mpd-biblio-covers.imgix.net/9781250250117.jpg)
Holmwood proves an excellent translator she has a sharp eye for prose and, most importantly when translating Jin Yong, seems to understand the purpose that underlies some of his odder structural choices. There was never going to be a spot in the first quarter of this novel that wouldn’t have seemed abrupt, but the conclusion of the action at the palace is a strong choice for where to leave off. This also means that this book does the heavy lifting of introducing the principals (Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Kang, Mu Nianci, Wanyan Honglie, Ouyang Ke) but aside from allusions and the repeated appearance of Huang Yaoshi’s student, Mei Chaofeng, the Five Greats are absent from the story. This volume covers the Condor Heroes story from its start to the escape of Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo from the palace of Wanyan Honglie. I will make sure to name other credited translators when I review future volumes of course. There are other translators involved in the project, but I will be referring to this edition of the overall work as the Holmwood translation throughout as a matter of expedience. I want to start by providing the most basic information: A Hero Born is the first of four volumes within this translation of Legend of the Condor Heroes – this volume was translated by Anna Holmwood and she was either the translator or the editor for each subsequent volume. Legend of the Condor Heroes is one of the greatest works of fantasy literature written, and the sprawling text provides vast opportunities for engagement and assessment. I frequently refer to Jin Yong as my favourite author, and this isn’t empty hyperbole. Writing about Jin Yong was also my original introduction to literary criticism and represents my earliest attempt to work in the field.
![legend of the condor heroes book legend of the condor heroes book](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594910859l/54553544._SY475_.jpg)
In fact, while it’s quite rough around the edges, my essay about Hong Qigong was a test balloon for much of what I’ve been trying to do in this space recently.
![legend of the condor heroes book legend of the condor heroes book](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WcMAAOSwL0hgZaJI/s-l400.jpg)
I have previously read Legend of the Condor Heroes via fan translations. However I did decide I’d space out my reading of the volumes to allow me to better keep up with my theory reading and to allow me to read a few other books that I have planned essays about (look for essays about A Wizard of Earthsea and a return to The Invisibles in the intermediate future – I want to make some revisions from my too-surface Hegelian read of the latter work.) Needless to say I put it under pre-order. Then I discovered that the fourth volume had been pushed back from a March release date to an August one… on the day I went to the store to buy it.
![legend of the condor heroes book legend of the condor heroes book](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nCRwiLoiL._SX342_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
Originally I’d intended to read all four volumes of the recent translation of Legend of the Condor Heroes back to back and then to write an essay after completing that effort. One of the unexpected impacts of the Coronavirus crisis of 2020-21 has been the delay of certain expected book releases.