Written in the middle of the 18th Century, Dream of the Red Chamber was a novel about the rise and fall of a Chinese aristocratic family. With three generations living under one roof, there were plenty of restless young people. They partied by hosting poetry salons, drinking wine, eating delicacies, singing, reciting, improvising, writing with prompts or dovetailing each other’s verse.
Poetry is clearly not a favorite pastime in the 21st Century, yet the idea of salon has not faded. It is still being held at people’s homes, although minus the servants who waited on the poets hand and foot. Now we potluck, use paper plates and plastic forks. It is much less stylish. But poets are romantic people. If the Red Chamber’s characters came to our modern day salon I’m sure they’ll feel just at home.
photo by Martin Hickel
