The Soul of Beijing Opera: Theatrical Creativity and Continuity in the Changing World

摘要

Compared to Chinese cinema studies, Chinese theatre studies are a relatively neglected area of scholarship, and jingju (Beijing Opera), despite its important place in Chinese cultural history, has been neglected within Chinese theatre studies. This excellent book, which examines the development of Beijing Opera since the late 19th century through the lens of some of its most outstanding and creative performers and their struggles to adapt their art to social change and the political demands of successive regimes, is therefore a particularly timely and valuable contribution to international scholarship.