Romance of the Three Kingdoms was published in the 14th century. Although the novel's author is not known for certain, it is widely attributed to Luo Guanzhong, who many scholars believed lived during the Ming dynasty (much of Guanzhong's life story is up for debate, as records were spotty).
The novel, which many consider to be a work of historical fiction, tells the story of feudal lords and the people associated with them throughout China, where they had a considerable amount of power. Romance of the Three Kingdoms shows how those lords waged war in hopes of gaining more wealth and land. It delves into the nature of power and the lengths many will go to to obtain it. In the end, it is a novel about China itself and how it developed.
Despite its age, Guanzhong's novel is still widely read to this day by people across the world, but especially in China, where it is considered one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. As such, the novel is included in many school reading lists for millions across Asia. Notably, there have been numerous translations into English and other languages, allowing greater access to the novels and their complex themes.
