Xueqin, Cao

Cao Xueqin (ca. 1715 - 1763), a Chinese novelist of the eighteenth century, was born in a prominent and rich Manchu family, but fortune turned against him and his family in 1728. He is best - known for Hong Lou Meng (1792), a tragicomic love story about the demise of Manchu dynasty that is based on his own experiences. He was a teacher and sold his paintings to support his family while writing his globally renowned novel, A Dream of Red Mansions (1930).

An 18th-century Chinese writer, Cao Xueqin belonged to a rich family. The influence of this affluent background is apparent in his depiction of Chinese upper classes. A man of great genius, his works offer an in-depth and perceptive account of the Orient.