With a little stretch of the imagination, it might be suggested that some Chinese tales from the Sung Dynasty are the precursors of modern detective fiction. Numerous stories in which Lord Bau is the chief protagonist bolster this conjecture. In this collection, translated from Chinese anthologies and retold for the English-speaking audience, Lord Bau is cast in the role of wise judge. Across the span of ten centuries, he remains to this day the symbol of the ideal public official.