Wilt L. Idema is professor emeritus of Chinese literature at Harvard University. He is the translator of Heroines of Jiangyong: Chinese Narrative Ballads in Women¿s Script and Meng Jiangnu Brings Down the Great Wall: Ten Versions of a Chinese Legend, and coauthor of The Red Brush: Writing Women of Imperial China.

Introduction
1. The Women of the Nalan Family: Miss Nalan, Sibo, and Madam Zhaojia
2. A Prisoner's Mother and Wife: The Mistress of the Study for Nurturing Simplicity and the Mistress of the Orchid Pavilion
3. Chastity and Suicide: Xiguang
4. Mourning Royalty: Lady Zhoujia, Lady Tongjia, and Lady Fucha
5. Sacrifice and Friendship: Bingyue
6. A Tomboy in a Silly Dress: Mengyue
7. Unbridled Energy: Yingchuan
8. Releasing Butterflies: Wanyan Jinchi
9. Seeking Refuge in Truth: Guizhen Daoren
10. Traveling throughout the Empire: Baibao Youlan
11. A Proud Descendant of Chinggis Khan: Naxun Lanbao
12. From Hengyang to Beijing: Lingwen Zhuyou
13. The Modest Pursuit of a Minor Way: Duomin Huiru
14. A Poet from the Homeland: Lady Husihali
Abbreviations
Notes
Glossary of Chinese Characters
Bibliography
Index