Taming Poison Dragons
This novel opens in 1196 with Yun Cai in exile on his family estates in western China. The once-famous poet has lost the love of his life, Su Li, and also his position within the elite of the civil service. His sons are a disappointment to him, and his mean-spirited daughter-in-law is a constant challenge to his poetic soul. However, “the poison dragon of misfortune” is about to unleash its full power, and Yun Cai finds himself trying to help P’ei Ti, an old friend, escape from prison. Eventually Yun Cai must confront General An-Shu and his consort with little more than his wits and intelligence as weapons to defend himself. This is a story of friendship and of Yun Cai’s personal quest to conquer his own “dragons” and find peace within.
The cast of characters range from Yun Cai’s cheerful Cousin Hong and other impoverished relatives to Yun Cai’s own cruel and wayward second son. They are often described in intricate detail, as is the pattern of everyday Chinese life during this period. The author clearly has a passion for ancient Chinese history, which shines through in this first novel set against the disorder caused by the Mongol invasion. What interested me particularly about this novel is the style in which it is written. Tim Murgatroyd has tried to conjure up a sense of period and place by using speech patterns that are both formal and poetic.
