Romance of the Three Kingdoms (novel): Difference between revisions

=== Tropes pertaining to the novel itself: ===

 

* [[Dramatization]]: One early editor referred to it as 70% fact and 30% fiction, which is more or less accurate: Luo Guanzhong's sources included not only historical records, but period Chinese operas, poetry and folktales as well. Some of the most memorable scenes in the book never really happened; [[That Other Wiki]] has [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictitious_stories_in_Romance_of_the_Three_Kingdoms a list], of course.

* [[Executive Meddling]]: The version used as the basis for the English translation is actually the 17th century version of the novel, extensively edited for readability by Mao Lun and his son, Mao Zhonggang. Wile the text overall improved as a result, Zhonggang excised some passages, sometimes lengthy ones, that dramatically changed the character of certain scenes in the novels. He even added a couple of passages, such as where {{spoiler|Lady Sun drowns herself after observing the burning of the Shu army at Yiling (thinking that Liu Bei had perished in the fire), in order to cast her in the light of the romantic ideal of the Confucian wife.}}