One Hundred & Seventy Chinese Poems 1945 Waley Translated Poetry Cloth Binding

Translated by Arthur Waley
1945 Reprint (First English edition 1918) 
Translated Poetry Anthology
 
Title & Author
 
ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTY CHINESE POEMS
Translated by Arthur Waley
Published by Constable & Co Ltd., London – 1945 Reprint
Printed by Chiswick Press, New Southgate, London
 
Description
A finely preserved 1945 reprint of One Hundred & Seventy Chinese Poems, translated by the eminent sinologist Arthur Waley, first published in 1918. Waley’s translations are celebrated for their elegance, clarity, and faithfulness, and this edition remains a beloved anthology of classical Chinese verse in English,  bringing the voices of ancient poets to modern readers.
This reprint features Waley’s refined selection of verse from multiple eras of Chinese poetic tradition, offering profound reflections on nature, love, life, and human experience. The translation style and the historical significance of the work make this a culturally important volume for collectors of translated literature and classical poetry.
 
About the Translator – Arthur Waley
Arthur Waley (1889–1966) was a distinguished British orientalist, sinologist, and translator, widely regarded as one of the foremost translators of Chinese and Japanese literature into English. His works introduced classical Asian poetry and drama to Western audiences and remain highly respected for their clarity, depth, and poetic sensitivity.
 
Bibliographic Details
Author / Translator: Arthur Waley
Title: One Hundred & Seventy Chinese Poems
Publisher: Constable & Co Ltd., London
Date: 1945 reprint (first English edition 1918)
Printer: Chiswick Press, New Southgate, London
Edition: Reprint, copyright edition
Format: Cloth-bound poetic anthology
Pagination: xii + 168 pages complete
Size: approx. 19 × 12.5 × 1.0 cm
Weight: approx. 162 grams
 
Exterior Condition
No dust jacket present
Bound in yellow cloth over boards and spine
Spine has title, author, and publisher in lettering on a blue panel
Cover intact and robust
Cosmetic wear consistent with age including:
creasing and small marks on boards
light soft bumping at corners
minor patches of rubbing/discolouration
Overall, an attractive and solid binding for a poetry anthology of this age.
 
Interior Condition
Pages lightly tanned, as expected for a mid-20th-century printing
Clean and predominantly uncreased throughout
Occasional light marks not affecting text
Pen inscription on front free endpaper dated Xmas 1945
All pages present (xii + 168)
Back free endpaper removed; remnants present (no text affected)
Pages tightly bound with no loose leaves
A neat and well-preserved text block with robust binding.
 
Summary 
This 1945 reprint of One Hundred & Seventy Chinese Poems is an attractive mid-century edition of Arthur Waley’s celebrated translations. Although not as scarce as the 1918 first edition, it remains desirable due to its intact binding, clean interior pages, and charming 1945 gift inscription. Copies in this condition are not commonly found today.
This volume is ideal for collectors of translated world poetry, readers of classical Chinese literature, admirers of Arthur Waley, and those interested in 20th-century poetry anthologies. It offers both literary significance and historical appeal, making it a thoughtful addition to any poetry or Eastern literature collection.