- Song Jiang: The charismatic leader of the rebellion, who assembles the band of outcasts and leads them into battle against overwhelming odds
- Sun Erniang: A determined female warrior whose courage inspires her male comrades
- Wu Song: Fierce and audacious, with a reputation matched only by his love of wine and women
- Pan Jinliang: A beautiful and mysterious temptress known as one of the most notorious villains in Chinese literature
Famous for its bawdy language, this new edition restores passages omitted in all other English versions because they were thought to be too racy. A detailed introduction by Edwin Lowe explains how the book's core message of courage and loyalty has captured the imagination of Chinese readers and continues to resonate with them today.