The story of White Snake, a demon who loved her victim and sought his love, has been a part of Chinese lore for over five hundred years. It has been told in numerous variations during its lifetime. In modern times, it is a tale that has been adapted into plays, ballads, operas, movies, art works, and ballets. The story of love between human and demon, captor and hostage, man and snake has appeared in numerous cultures. This book provides an introductory history of the story and its themes, including its relationship to the Thunder Peak Pagoda in Hangzhou, and presents a translation of this tale itself. The author of the introduction, who also translated and edited the book, is a professor of Chinese Literature at Harvard University. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)