Gathered here are gems galore, which, while revealing much as to the Chinese national psyche, highlight particular traits and characteristics that span the globe. We all know Deng Xiaoping s famous It doesn't matter what color the cat is, as long as it catches mice , but most of us would only recognize an approximate English equivalent of A mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake or, A Phoenix might come out of a crow s nest . The beasts and birds of legend and folklore provide the inimitable Kathryn Lamb s pen with a feast of hilarious subjects, not least a certain revolution at one ill-fated dinner party...