The Peony Pavilion by Tang Xianzu

"The Peony Pavilion" is a romantic tragicomedy play set during the Ming Dynasty, revolving around the love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei. After falling in love with Liu in a dream, Du Liniang, the daughter of a high official, pines for him so deeply that she becomes ill and dies. Her spirit roams, seeking to be reunited with her lover. Liu, a young scholar, later discovers her portrait and falls in love with the image, leading to a series of supernatural events that eventually culminate in Du Liniang’s resurrection and the lovers' marriage. The play explores themes of love, destiny, and the metaphysical, challenging the social norms of the time.

The 6634th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 54

Since this book was first published in 1598, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 54.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.