The Wallet of Kai Lung (1900) by Ernest Bramah is a collection of whimsical tales set in an imaginary ancient China. The book introduces Kai Lung, an itinerant storyteller who wanders the land, recounting elaborate stories to innkeepers, mandarins, and even captors—often charming or outwitting his way out of danger. Written in a deliberately ornate, mock-classical style brimming with aphorisms and gentle irony, the stories blend humor, fantasy, and satire. Characters include hapless suitors, cunning bandits, gold-seekers, and despotic mandarins. The book established Kai Lung as a beloved figure in English fantasy literature and launched a popular series.
