In The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen, Alexander offers a taste of ancient Chinese culture in the form and tone of traditional Chinese fiction. A reader may occasionally require some explanation of terms, such as "string of cash" (Chinese coins had holes in them, allowing them to be strung together), but everything important to the story is made clear, and images are sharply drawn and resonant. The culture of ancient Chinese society is presented with dignity, its folklore incorporated into a colorful adventure. From the poorest of the poor to the monarch, each character speaks for the social conventions and relationships of a rich culture.

Alexander is noted for his efforts to create male-female relationships of equals, and he does a good job of creating one in The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen without violating the spirit of the society he depicts. It is dangerous to...