[In the following excerpt from a review of Chinese Ghost and Love Stories, translated by Rose Quong in 1946, Glick somewhat misleadingly describes this partial collection of Pu's stories as retold folk tales.]

In old China no story was considered worthy of being published until it had been told and retold by word of mouth for generations. Then, when its popularity was assured, and the telling had been so perfected that each word and every line had meaning, the story was ready to be printed. So around 1680. Pu Sung-Ling collected some 400 of the best-known and best-loved folk tales and, immortalized them by retelling them in his own poetic style. For a long time the manuscript was passed around among his friends, and finally in 1740 it was published by his grandson. It is considered one of the Chinese classics. Pu Lung-Ling called his book, Liao Chai Chih Yi, which roughly translated means. "Strange Stories from the Refuge of My Study." And that's what they are: fanciful, humorous, and strange stories of the love between mortals and ghosts, of foxes turned into beautiful girls, of happenings in the otherworld, and of all manner of unusual and weird adventures.