The Lacquer Screen by Robert Hans Van Gulik (1993)

For all the great mysteries out there, there are actually very few really wonderful detectives. Sherlock Holmes & Hercule Poirot come to mind, but there is excellence in detecting outside the limits of Anglophile elitism. Judge Dee Jen-djieh is a shining example of the potential greatness of outside cultures, drawing his success and wisdom from the nearly untapped well of the Chinese justice system. A true juggernaut of the historical mystery genre, this great magistrate is not to be missed.

The brainchild of Dutch diplomat Robert Van Gulik, the adventures of Judge are actually based upon original Chinese manuscripts which the author translated in the earlier half of the 20th century. Set in 7th century China, the mysteries follow the career of Judge Dee as his takes him across the Chinese mainland to solve some of his country's most baffling conundrums. Impeccably researched and solidly grounded in the 17th and 18th century detective stories which perfected the style, each of Van Gulik's novels is a masterwork of historical fiction, providing the reader with a wonderful mystery and a glimpse into the grand Chinese empire

Get On With It

Ok, time to get to the particular case of The Lacquer Screen, filled with murder, intrigue, and of course courtesans. In it, Judge Dee travels on vacation to another district and makes a courtesy call to the local magistrate. What he finds is a man, half crazed and convinced of his madness, who is sure that his lacquer screen is haunted and predicts that he will murder his wife. The prophecy is some fulfilled, and as always the bodies start to pile up. Judge Dee rushes to solve the crimes and to find out whether or not his esteemed colleague is an innocent man or a dangerous psychotic. The answer is one that no one will expect

While the plot seems complex and convoluted, it is handled as always with care and dexterity. Van Gulik purposely struggled with this multiple-problem chaos, which is based upon the popular format of the Judge Dee transcripts that he translated prior to his own writing. Chinese magistrates don't have the luxury of investigating a single case, being "the mother and father" of an entire district. The Lacquer Screen reflects all of the pressure and responsibility that comes with such a position, and Judge Dee is more than up to the challenge.

One of the aspects of this mystery that makes it distinctive among the Judge Dee tomes is its administrative cynicism. A loyal supporter of the Emperor and of the Chinese bureaucracy, the magistrate's adventures usually reflect his positive perceptions of the official world of 7th century China. Here there is a touch of dark reality, a glimpse of the human trappings that can effect even those in positions of great power and respect. More than just an interesting change of pace for Judge Dee, this commentary adds another layer of complexity to the Van Gulik canon, demonstrating his ability to stretch his character and his created universe beyond the formal limitations of its literary foundation. Even if it wasn't such an intriguing case, The Lacquer Screen would still be an important read if only for the aforementioned reason

A Short Artistic Digression

Every Judge Dee mystery comes illustrated with carvings prepared by the author himself, usually depicting scenes from the stories or important items and locations. The Lacquer Screen is notable for the four-piece illustration that precedes the story, which depicts the four seasons of the screen in question. Beautiful and ethereal, these important clues to the mystery reveal Van Gulik's artistic skills at both the literary and the physical.


The Final Verdict

Are you kidding me? This is a stunning display of both the charm of Judge Dee and the range of author Van Gulik. A worthy volume in one of the greatest series of historical mysteries, The Lacquer Screen is not to be missed!