The Real Tripitaka and Other Pieces

London: George Allen & Unwin, Ltd, 1952. First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Very Good. 9" by 6". Not Stated. A first edition copy of Arthur Waley's historical study into the pilgrim Triptaka, from his translation of the Chinese novel 'Monkey'. The first edition of this work in the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. Ink inscription to the front free end paper, dated 1954. Arthur Waley (1889-1966) was an English orientalist and sinologist, who achieved scholarly acclaim for his translations of Chinese and Japanese poetry. This work was published as a result of his popular translation of the Chinese novel 'Monkey': it offers an interesting historical study of the real-life pilgrim Tripitaka, who is the protagonist of 'Monkey'. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, cloth is in excellent condition apart from a small bump to the extremity of the rear board. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean except for the odd spot to the fore edge and to the first and last few pages. Dust wrapper is generally smart, with a little sunning to the spine and chipping to the head and tail of the spine, and the odd spot to the wrap. Very Good Indeed