From the translator that brought the acclaimed erotic Chinese novel The Embroidered Couch back into print, comes this collection of five erotic stories, also from Ming dynasty China. Preoccupied with sexuality and featuring a host of bold, aggressive, cunning and seductive male characters, and highly passionate, sensual and sexually insatiable women, Ling Mengchu (1580-1644) explores the sensual pleasures of deceit, coyeurism, carnal orgies, partner swapping and menage a trois between all possible gender configurations.