how to add "... read more" anchor to end of text if it does not fit

Issue

I'm looking for a way to add "... read more" hyperlink to end of visible part of multi-line text if its height exceeds 8em.

I tried code below but ... read more does not appear and only half of last line height is visible.

How to make it to appear and allow user to click in it?

something like:

asd sadas sads asda dfdsf
dfds sdf ... read more


.description
{
    max-height: 8em;
    overflow: hidden;
    font-size: small;
    text-overflow: "<a href='details'>... read more</a>";
}

<p class='description'>dsdsa sakldlka asld slkskldsdlks ewekesdsdjkdj skskssk skssksk skssksks sksksks sksksjs sksks kassaksk skdksk skdskdj askdasj asdkasjd asldksa lasd askla dasl asldaksd lad askdal adslkaskd lads askaldka alsdkaslda  adkalsdk adsdkasl adklasdl kaldakd aas dasdklasdask asldkaslsdk asldsakdl
kassaksk skdksk skdskdjff askdasj asdkasjd asldksa lasd askla dasl asldaksd lad askdal adslkaskd lads askaldka alsdsdkaslda  adkalsdk adsdkasl adklasdl kaldakd aas dasdklasdask asldkaslsdk asldsakdl
sad kassaksk skdksk skdskdj askdasj asdkasjd asldksa lasd askla dasl asldaksd lad askdal adslkaskd lads askaldka alsdkaslda ff adkalsdk fffadsdkasl adklasdl kaldakd aas dasdklasdask asldkaslsdk asldsakdl
fddfkassaksk skdfdfksk skdskdj askdasj asdkasjd asldksa lasd askla dasl asldaksd lad askdal adslkaskd lads askaldka alsdkaslda  adkalsdk adsdkasl adklasdl kaldakd aas dasdklasdask asldkaslsdk asldsakdl</p>

Solution

You will need jQuery / (server side language) for this. It cant be done with pure css.

dotdotdot is very nice jquery plugin for the same purpose. (Scroll bottom for Read more example)

Answered By - Jashwant