Book of the Later Han

Book of the Later Han is a Chinese historical work compiled in the 5th century by Fan Ye and others, and it belongs to the Twenty-Four Histories. It covers the history of the Han dynasty during its later period, from 6 to 189, and it draws on earlier histories and other documents as source material. Written in Middle Chinese, it is a formal dynastic history rather than a narrative book, so it gives a structured account of the period and shows how official history was assembled in imperial China.

It suits readers who want a primary historical source and those interested in Chinese history, historical editing, or the way dynastic chronicles are built. It is less suited to someone looking for a light read or a plot-driven book, and more for readers comfortable with documentary prose and broad institutional history. Its main appeal is the combination of early source material and careful compilation inside one of the central historical series of Chinese tradition.