David Hawkes, described by a distinguished fellow sinologist as "the best living translator in our field, as well as one of the nicest people to have graced our profession", celebrates his eightieth birthday this year (2003). In this unusual and varied Birthday Book (a Festschrift with a difference), over forty of David's friends, students, colleagues and admirers from all over the world have come together to wish him a happy birthday, and to celebrate the man, and his exceptional scholarly and creative achievements.

David Hawkes is best known for his masterful translations, in which he has set the highest standards, not only of scholarship, but also of creative ingenuity and eloquence, standards that have inspired a whole generation of translators. But as readers will discover from this rich collection, the books are only part of the story: over the years their author has touched and inspired a great number of people ― as teacher, friend, and mentor ― perhaps more deeply than his own modesty has allowed him to realise.

This book is divided into three parts. The first part consists of informal reminiscences, poems and personal contributions of various kinds; the second part brings together essays, both sinological and general; the third and last part consists of translations. The volume is embellished by a number of photographs, paintings, and pieces of calligraphy. The publication has been generously supported by the Hong Kong Translation Society, to honour one of the great scholars of our time.