"This addition to a growing body of premodern popular Chinese literature in translation, much of it also by Idema, is something to be celebrated. Books like these provide a welcome source of variety for those of us who regularly teach undergraduates and hope to broaden our students’ understanding of Chinese literature beyond the highlight reel of the Shijing, Tang poetry, and six great novels of the Ming and Qing. ... there remains incredible value in making obscure, yet compelling, stories such as these available to non-native Chinese readers. Though the price of the hardcover edition is certainly beyond the budgets of most students, it appears that Cambria offers students and libraries digital access to the book at much friendlier rates. Thanks to this, and the inspiring power the Immortal Maiden, I can recommend this collection of translated precious scrolls for anyone interested in adding more popular Chinese literature to courses on religion or culture." —Journal of Chinese Religions
"This comprehensive book brings together a wide range of scholarship on the baojuan genre with an insightful use of sources. The translated texts offer readers a well-rounded look at the themes and content of this prosimetric genre which are creatively presented on the printed page. The text will be very useful in comparisons with other Chinese genres of prosimetrum and texts in other traditions in East Asia, India, Central Asia, and possibly farther afield." —Mark Bender, The Ohio State University