The dramatic life of Wang Wei, the famed poet who stood next to the Emperor in the Tang Dynasty court, as reflected in his poetry.

Wang Wei's impact on American poetry was profound and lasting, helping inspire Ezra Pound and the Imagists to create a distinctly modern American poetic voice. William Carlos Williams famous red wheelbarrow poem is channeling pure Wang Wei. But the poet himself remains a mystery, and most translations fall far short of poetry. This book presents a poetic biography of Wang Wei, one of the most remarkable figures in literary history. At the height of China's glory, Wang Wei stood next to the Tang Emperor at court. Captured by barbarians during a rebellion, accused of treason when the Emperor returned to power, his life was saved by a poem he wrote in prison.

Wang Wei was also China's first great landscape painter. A stone rubbing of his lost, legendary Wang River Painting still exists, along with his poems about the Wang River. Remarkably, the place that inspired each poem is clearly indicated on the painting. We are incredibly lucky to have poetry from every stage of Wang Wei's career, from his first youthful manifesto to his final summing up of a long and fruitful life. Now, for the first time, his amazing story can be told in words straight from the poets soul and heart.