Dream of the Red Chamber, first published in its entirety in 1791, is not only a treasure trove of Chinese classical literature (alongside Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, and Journey to the West) but also, in its writing style and plot structure, it is very close to the modern novel, perhaps for this reason enjoying such a strong readership. The book tells the story of the rise and fall of a large, wealthy family, who thoughtlessly squandered their wealth, bringing upon themselves a multitude of misfortunes and hardships. The novel's elegant style, fantastical events, love affairs, and detailed descriptions of everyday life brought it widespread popularity.
The current edition of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is based on the 1958 two-volume edition, but the translations of numerous poems that make up an important part of the novel are based on the 1997 edition, for which translator Lev Nikolaevich Menshikov re-examined and corrected his texts. The novel is accompanied by original illustrations by Chinese artists.

The first volume includes an introductory article by L. N. Menshikov and the first sixty chapters of the novel.

The second volume includes the last sixty chapters of the novel.