3 h 37 minAudiobook7 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at costPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
An empire cracks, sworn friends face divided loyalties, and rival warlords reach for the throne.
The Story of Tang follows the fall of the Sui dynasty and the rise of the Tang. Emperor Yang’s costly projects and wars wear down his people. As his rule weakens, soldiers, outlaws and ambitious lords gather strength. Among them stands Qin Qiong, a loyal soldier pulled by duty, friendship and devotion to his mother.
Young Li Shimin draws gifted men to his side, while his careful father, Li Yuan, weighs each dangerous choice. Rivals such as Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong and Li Mi seek power. Traditionally attributed to Luo Guanzhong, this historical novel brings real figures together with legendary heroes in a sweeping storyteller’s tale of brotherhood, courage and ambition.
What you’ll discover
- Friendship under strain Follow Qin Qiong as duty and sworn bonds pull him toward difficult choices.
- Courage with a grin Meet Cheng Yaojin, whose rough humor and fearless spirit brighten the rebel bands.
- Loyalty above gain Discover Shan Xiongxin, a generous hero who helps others and prizes his sworn friendships.
- A throne worth fighting for Watch rival leaders claim power as Sui rule collapses and the struggle widens.
- The right to rule Explore how the novel uses the mandate of Heaven to question a ruler’s legitimacy.
Is it for you?
This book suits readers who enjoy sprawling tales of war, brotherhood and rival courts, and anyone curious about how the Tang dynasty began. It may suit you less if you want strict history or a tightly plotted single story.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A great empire starts to crack
- Qin Qiong and the bonds of brotherhood
- Outlaws, rebels, and the rise of the瓦 camps
- Rival warlords fight for the empty throne
- The Li family and the young Li Shimin
- What the story means and how it is told
Who’s who
- Qin QiongA strong and loyal soldier from Shandong who cares for his mother and must decide where his duty and his friendships lead.
- Cheng YaojinA rough, fearless and cheerful fighter whose humor and courage make him a favorite among the rebel bands.
- Shan XiongxinA generous hero and sworn friend who helps others in need and values loyalty above gain.
- Li ShiminThe bold young son of the Li family, a gifted leader who draws able men to his side.
- Li YuanThe careful head of the Li family, a Sui official who watches the collapse of the empire and weighs his choices.
- Emperor Yang of SuiThe ruler whose costly projects and wars wear down the people and push the empire toward collapse.
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- Audiobook
- 3 h 37 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 7 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
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L’Histoire des Tang
Soldiers, outlaws and rival lords struggle as a dynasty falls.
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Language: Français
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1 of 6
A great empire starts to crack
The story opens in the last years of the Sui dynasty. The Sui had reunited China after a long period of division, and it had done so with great force. Its second emperor, Emperor Yang, is shown as a ruler of huge appetites who spends the strength of his people on his own grand plans.
History records the heavy burdens of his reign. Workers were drafted for vast projects such as the Grand Canal, and armies were sent on costly campaigns against the kingdom of Goguryeo in the northeast. The novel draws on this background to explain why ordinary people grow desperate. Farmers lose their sons to the army and their harvests to the taxman.
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What is The Story of Tang about?
It is a Chinese historical novel about the end of the Sui dynasty and the rise of the Tang. It follows heroes, rebels and warlords who fight over the empire, with real figures mixed with legend.
Did Luo Guanzhong really write The Story of Tang?
The book is traditionally attributed to him, but scholars are cautious. The text we know probably took shape later, through storytellers and editors, so the attribution is best read as a tradition.
Is The Story of Tang a true story?
It rests on real events and people, such as Emperor Yang, Li Shimin and the warlords of the period. Many episodes and heroes come from popular legend, so it is historical fiction and not strict history.
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